Expressing Breastmilk
Learning how to hand express breastmilk is an important skill for mothers.
Hand expressing colostrum or breastmilk is important because it allows you to:
- provide baby with a taste of milk to get them interested in feeding,
- soften the areola to help baby to latch,
- lessen the discomfort of overfull breasts,
- prevent or soothe nipple soreness by gently rubbing a few drops of milk onto the nipples,
- help maintain milk supply if separated from baby or unable to feed baby directly from the breast, and
- save your money by not needing to buy a breast pump.
How to express and store breastmilk
Expressing and Storing Breastmilk (PDF) - Best Start
Detailed information on hand expression, pumping, and storing breastmilk.
The Basics of Breast Massage and Hand Expression (video) - Maya Bolman, IBCLC and Ann Witt, MD, FABM, IBCLC
An instructional video demonstrating breast massage and hand expression.
Hand Expressing Breastmilk (video) - Healthy Families BC
Hand expression is when a mother expresses milk by hand. It can take practice. This video includes some helpful tips.
How to Use Your Hands When You Pump (video) – Stanford Medicine
This video demonstrates some ways that pumping mothers can increase production without medication.
Resources:
- Returning to Work after Baby (PDF) – Best Start
- Alternative Feeding Methods for Newborns (video) - Healthy Families BC
It is best if babies can get nutrition from breastfeeding; however, for some mothers this may not be possible, especially if there are medical concerns for the mother or baby.