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Women's Health

Maternity

Breastfeeding

Why Express or Pump Breast Milk?

At times you may want to express or to pump your breast milk. Especially during engorgement, you may want to relieve some of the pressure off of your breast or make the breast softer for your baby by using your hand to let out some of the milk (expression). Pumping your breast milk allows you to store your milk to bottle feed to your baby at a later time, when breastfeeding may not be possible or convenient.

How to choose a pump

Hand Expression

To prepare for hand expression, gather together a sterile container (if you wish to store the milk) and a warm wash cloth, and wash your hands. Apply the warm, wet washcloth on your breast. Massage your breast gently, stroking from the outside of your breast toward the nipple. Then proceed with the following steps:

  • Lean over the sterile container
  • Place your thumb on top and two fingers under the areola (darker area of the breast).
  • Push into the chest wall.
  • Push thumb and fingers together in a rolling motion. Do not squeeze your breast.
  • Repeat this motion until the milk flow begins to stop, then try a differnt position on the areola.
  • Emptying each breast will take about 20-30 minutes.

Pumping Breast Milk

Using a pump to obtain and store breast milk is often a faster and easier alternative to hand expression. Breast pumps are designed to mimic the sucking motion of a baby. There are several types of breast pumps available at stores - manual and electric, as well as single and dual pumps (to empty both breasts at one time), and they fall within a wide price range. A mom who is returning to work and wants to continue to give her baby the benefits of breast milk may find one of the fast electric pumps to be of value, whereas a mom who wants to store only enough milk for an emergency may find a less expensive manual pump to be perfect for her needs. Be sure to ask your health care provider's advice before purchasing a pump.

Storing Breast Milk

You can store milk in plastic or glass baby bottles or in sterile plastic nurser bags. You can sterilize the plastic bottles by washing them in the dishwasher or covering them with cold water and boiling them for ten minutes. After boiling, turn off the heat and allow to cool. Do not touch the insides of the bottles.

Fill the bottles or bags, then seal. Do not completely fill either the bottle or bag - be sure to leave some space.

You may then store your milk in a :

  • Refrigerator: Store for only 3 to 5 days, then throw it away if not used. If the milk has been frozen and then thawed, only leave it in the refrigerator for a maximum 24 hours, then throw it away if not used.
  • Freezer: Cool the milk in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before you put it in the freezer. If you use a plastic nursing bag, stand the bag in a plastic or paper cup in the freezer until it is frozen. Milk can be stored in a freezer that is inside a refrigerator for only two weeks; in a freezer with a separate door for three months; and in a deep freezer at 0 degrees for six months.
  • Always throw away any milk left over after your baby has been fed.

To thaw your milk, place the plastic bag or bottle in a cup of warm water for a few minutes. Do not boil the milk and never put it in the microwave. The milk will be less nutritious for your baby and microwaves cause "hot spots" in the milk that can burn your baby's mouth and throat.

After the milk is thawed, it may separate, so shake the bag or bottle to mix it, then feed to your baby.