Expressing Breast Milk
There are many reasons and methods for expressing breast milk…and on the surface the various options can make it all seem very difficult, confusing and sometimes painful. But the great thing is that your reason for pumping breast milk can make your decision on how often you are going to express, how long you need to express for, and the type of breast pump you will use easier.
I started expressing breast milk soon after I established breastfeeding. For many mums this is usually when their baby is about 6-8 weeks old; they are feeling confident with breastfeeding and their supply has balanced enough for them to notice. I needed to express because I was going back to work part-time and wanted my little boy to continue to have the advantages of breastfeeding when we were apart.
You might need to express your breast milk because:
• Your breasts may be engorged
• Your baby may not be feeding often
• You may have inverted, cracked or sore nipples
• You may need to clear mastitis
• You may be returning to work
• You may like to have the freedom and flexibility of leaving your baby with someone when you need to
• You may have a baby that is unable to feed for various medical reasons
Expressing breast milk can also be easier when you understand how your breasts work and what you can do to trigger the let down reflex, which makes your milk flow...somehow a plastic, cold breast pump may not be as conducive to it as your little baby is!!
I expressed for about 6 months with my first and about 3 months with my second baby and it was very different both times. I found that expressing takes practice and time; and that your baby is gernerally more efficient at removing milk from your breasts than any type of pumping ever will be.
To give you an example of this, my second baby was a little guts and he had cute little fat rolls all over him. He was only three months old and exclusively breast fed, so I knew my milk supply was more than fine. But when I tried to express (using a hand pump) it took me about 6 weeks to get anything more than a few drops.
Often, the amount of milk you express isn't an indication of how much milk you have or how much milk your baby actually drinks...a lot of mums can get hung up on this and I can understand why having gone through it myself.
Expressing breast milk is a topic which is very close to my heart, I have tried it all, including every method of breast milk storage you can imagine so I hope you find the related pages helpful in your quest to pump breast milk.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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Here are some links to more information on expressing that you might be interested in:
Hand Expressing
Hand expressing is a great way to express breast milk. Knowing the right technique will allow you to express as much milk as you need to for whatever reason.
Manual Breast Pumps
Thinking about manual breast pumps? I used mine constantly for 9 months and here's what I loved and learned about it.
Electric Breast Pumps
Electric breast pumps come in different sizes and have different features. Finding what suits you can be tricky, but this info should help.
Storing Breast Milk
Whether you're expressing to return to work, ease mastitis or build your supply, storing breast milk correctly will keep it fresh for your baby.
Breast Pump Cleanliness
Keeping your breast pump clean is not as time consuming and difficult as it used to be. In fact it's really quite simple…great new for a busy mum.
When to Express Breast Milk
Find easy to follow, tabled information to help you work out when to express breast milk and how much to express for different situations.
Breast Milk - How's it Look?
If you've just started expressing, you may be unsure about the appearance of your breast milk. Find out what it should look like and if it's ok.
Return from Expressing Breast Milk to The Essence of Breastfeeding
