Expressing breast milk

In most cases, lactation in the mother depends on the child's needs: the more a child needs milk, the more it is neededstands out. Therefore, the expressing of breast milk is usually not required. However, sometimes expressing milk is simply necessary, in particular, in the following cases:

1. Health status mother and / or child does not allow them to betogether. In this case, the expressing of breast milk allows the mother to maintain lactation. Breast milk should be carefully decanted for 10-15 minutes 8-10 times a day.


2. The mother has a need to go off somewhere urgently for several hours: in order not to disturb lactation, breast milk will need to be expressed.


3. When stagnant milk - lactostasis. It is observed in the event that after childbirthwomen breast milk is too fast. In this case, the decantation of breast milk is performed until the woman's condition improves. If you express the milk completely, it will come constantly, which will only aggravate the stagnation of milk.


4. When poor appetite child. If a child has health problems, in the first days of life, he can consume a little breast milk. In this case, the natural mechanism of regulation starts acting, and the milk becomes smaller. As soon as the child's appetite comes back to normal, he will start to miss milk. To avoid this, express milk 5-6 times a day.

Expressing breast milk is done two ways: by hand or using a breast pump. Whichever way you choose, remember that the most the main rule of expression - cleanliness and sterility. Before decanting, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap, wash your breast with running water without soap, and then rinse with boiled. If you are going to do expressing breast milk, do not lubricate the nipples with ointments or creams. If the expressed milk you plan to give to the baby, express it only in sterile dishes.

Expressing breast milk manually is done like this:

1. Take a comfortable position, calm down and relax.


2. Grab the nipple a couple of centimeters from the tip of your thumb and index finger, gently press and slide your fingers towards the nipple.


3. When the milk runs out at this point, slide your fingers and repeat the procedure - until you empty all the milk tanks around the nipple.

Complete manual pumping lasts about 10-15 minutes. If for some reason you need to express only a part of the milk, it can last less.

Expressing breast milk with breast pump can be carried out using manual and electric breast pumps. Manual models are often equipped with a rubber pear. Electric models can operate from the network or from batteries. In any case, the decantation of breast milk with the help of a breast pump is carried out in strict accordance with the instruction that is attached to each device.

Due to antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties of breast milk, it can be store for quite some time. Expressing breast milk is best done in sterile glassware and plastic, designed specifically for baby food.

After expressing breast milk can be stored at room temperature, in the refrigerator or in the freezer. Shelf life of breast milk:

• 6 hours at room temperature


• 2 nights - in the refrigerator


• 1-2 weeks - in the freezer


• 3 months - with deep freezing

If breast milk is "decayed" into several layers during storage - do not panic. The fact is that it contains a lot of fat. Just stir the milk, and it will again acquire a uniform consistency.

Before use, breast milk warm up - in a water bath, shaking the bottle from time to time, or using a special bottle warmer. To warm up breast milk, you can not use a microwave and open fire.

It is important to remember the most important: with proper breastfeeding, there is no need to express milk, because the mother's body regulates lactation itself, depending on the needs of the child. Expressing breast milk is only necessary in non-standard situations, which were listed above.