Baby Care

EXPRESSING BY HAND

expressing by hand

Massaging the outer breast Make sure your hands are clean. Cup your breast in both hands with the fingers underneath and the thumbs above. Squeeze the outer part of your breast gently and firmly between your fingers and thumbs. Repeat this ten times, moving around the breast as you do so.

expressing by hand

Massaging the inner breast Move your hands closer to the areola and repeat the squeezing procedure as above.

expressing by hand

Starting the flow Place the thumb and fingers of one hand near the areola, press them back into your ribs, then squeeze gently and rhythmically. If the milk doesn’t begin to flow immediately, keep trying.

expressing by hand

Emptying the breast Continue for about five minutes, working around the areola, then move on to the second breast. Repeat the whole procedure for both breasts.


Category` Feeding and Nutrition — Tags` , , , , , — @ 4:54 am

EXPRESSING MILK

Expressed milk can easily be stored either in the refrigerator or in the freezer. This will free you from feeling tied down by breastfeeding, and allows your baby to be fed with your milk if you are away. It also allows your partner to share in feeding your baby.

Milk can be expressed from your breasts using either your hands or a breast pump, which may be manual or electric. Although small battery pumps are very easy to use many women find hand expressing to be easier and more convenient. Before you start, you will need a bowl, a funnel, and a container that can be sealed. All equipment must be very clean.

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Category` Feeding and Nutrition — Tags` , , , , — @ 2:49 am