Hand Expression
Information for breastfeeding families
Hand expression is a handy skill to have whenever you need to empty your breasts and you are not with your baby or your baby is temporarily unable to breastfeed. In the first few days after birth, hand expression can be more effective at removing colostrum than using a breast pump. If your baby needs a supplement in the first week or so, use hand expression to provide the milk needed!
Hand expression routine:
1. Apply heat, massage, and stroke breasts
2. Position fingers behind areola
3. Press back toward the chest
4. Compress fingers together to express milk
5. Relax and repeat, getting a rhythm going
6. Express for 5-7 minutes
7. Move fingers to a different position
8. Massage and stroke the breast
9. Press back toward the chest
10. Compress fingers together to express milk
11. Express milk for 3-5 minutes
12. Massage and stroke breasts
13. Move fingers to a different position
14. Express milk for 1-2 minutes
15. Complete cycle takes 20-30 minutes
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