Operation Lactation

Who would have thought you'd be milking yourself??? 🐄 I have asked many mommas this question after teaching them how to execute this little technique: hand expression. This simple, low-tech trick comes in handy in multiple situations and all you need is your hands and a spoon or cup.

During the first couple days after delivery, hand expression can be an easy and effective way to provide milk to a sleepy or frustrated baby. If baby will not wake up and it is time to eat, you can provide some milk with a spoon and sometimes that will encourage interest in nursing (if not, at least baby has some milk on his/her belly now). When a baby is too tired to Demand it., it is a good idea to express milk another way to promote good milk production. I have also come across babies who are too distraught to latch. Rather than further frustrating momma and baby, hand express so you can get some milk into baby, and maybe after that baby will be calm enough to breastfeed.

Another occasion for hand expression is when encouragement hits. Sometimes baby can have a difficult time latching on to an engorged breast because it is too firm. Solution: hand express enough to soften the breast so baby is able to latch. Last, but not least, if you find yourself without a pump, you can still use your hands to get milk out.

Enough talk! Let's get down to business. Here are the steps in written and video form:

1. Start with your fingers and thumb on either side of the areola.

2. Push your fingers straight back toward your chest wall.

3. Squeeze your breast while bringing your fingers all the way to the nipple.

4. Relax your grip and reposition your fingers to start again.

As the drops start, you will simply collect them into a spoon or little cup. You may find that you need to scrape the drops up rather than expecting them to drip into the spoon. Rotate between breasts every couple minutes until there is no more milk flowing. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• One breast is always a bigger milk-producer than the other.

• Every few squeezes move your fingers so you are working on other milk ducts.

• A baby who is latched correctly will get more milk than you get from hand expressing (or pumping).

• Sometimes it takes several squeezes before the milk starts appearing. 

• Do not hurt yourself.

It is easy to feed baby the expressed milk from the spoon or cup. Anchor the spoon on baby's bottom lip and then slowly drip a little milk into baby's mouth. Give baby a chance to swallow before dripping in more milk. Ta-da!

Peace, joy and blessings!