Hand Expression
6 steps to expressing breastmilk by hand
Step 1
Sit up and lean forward so gravity is working for you, not against you.
Step 2
Gently massage your breasts with hands or a warm towel. This will help the milk start flowing.
Step 3
Make a “C” shape with your pointer finger and thumb. Place this “C” shape around your areola. Your nipple should be in the middle of your thumb and pointer finger.
Step 4
Apply steady pressure inward, pressing your fingers back toward the chest. (See arrows in image) Keep your fingers in the same “C” shape.
Step 5
After you press back gently, bring your pointer finger and thumb gently together. Then, relax your fingers. Milk will not come out right away. But, this process will stimulate the milk ducts to eject milk through your nipples. Alternate this step to collect milk from both sides.
Step 6
Repeat Steps 4 and 5. Press, compress, relax. Keep repeating these same steps on both sides to continue expressing your milk. Many new moms use a spoon to collect their first milk, which they can then spoon-feed to their newborn babies.
Tips for success
- Avoid tightening or stretching the skin over the areola.
- Express milk frequently! The more frequently milk is expressed, the earlier it will come in, and the more milk you can make.
Deeper Dive
To see more about how hand expression works check out this video.