Many women express breast milk to reduce engorgement, prevent leaks, and save supplies for later use. For some women, hand expressing (marmet) can be a more comfortable alternative to a breast pump. The process can be done anywhere, and without the need for special tools or devices. This technique has also been shown to help produce more milk; Some women's breasts express milk more easily through direct skin-to-skin contact than through the use of a plastic pump. If you want to know how to express breast milk by hand, see Step 1 to get started.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Getting Started
Step 1. Wash your hands
Your hands should be thoroughly washed before attempting to express breast milk by hand. If you wash it with cold water, warm your hands before touching your breasts. Cold hands can cause the flushing process to take longer than warm hands. If it's your first time and you're not sure, you can also ask a nurse for help, or even ask your partner for help.
Step 2. Place a cloth that has been moistened with warm water on your breasts for 2 minutes
This can help milk production. Although this is not necessary, it is not at all detrimental.
Step 3. Massage your breasts
If you want to prepare your breasts for further hand-expression, you can gently massage your breasts with your hands or a soft towel. Massage and lightly press the skin around the nipples to help your breasts become more limp and ready to produce milk.
Part 2 of 2: Expressing breast milk by hand
Step 1. Sit down and bend slightly forward
This position will make it easier for you to express your milk and remain comfortable throughout the process. You will not produce much milk if you are standing or lying down.
Step 2. Place your fingers on the mammary glands in your breasts
You should position your hands in a "C" shape above or below the nipple. This is what you should do:
- Place your thumb over the nipple. It should be about 2.5 cm above your nipple.
- Place your first 2 fingers 2.5 cm below the nipple, parallel to the thumb.
- Adjust the position of the fingers to find the most comfortable position and according to your bust size.
- Do not cup your breasts in this position.
Step 3. Press inward against the chest wall
The pressure should be gentle and firm, but shouldn't feel like squeezing the breast. Avoid squeezing or stretching the skin around the areola as this will make it difficult to expel the milk. Re-press your thumb and forefinger directly on the breast tissue, towards the inside of the chest wall. Here are some other things to keep in mind:
- Remember to press back, not exit, and to scroll your finger, not slide it.
- Roll your thumb and fingers forward until you are squeezing the milk out of the duct, which is under the areola, under the nipple.
- Put your fingers together. Spreading your fingers will reduce the effectiveness of the milking process.
- Lift the larger breast before starting to press.
Step 4. Express the milk
Use a rolling motion away from the body with your thumb and fingers. Press your breasts in a rolling motion. As always said, you have to press, squeeze, then relax. Once you get used to it, you'll be able to follow the rhythm, as if your baby were breastfeeding, and this will help make it easier for you to express your milk.
- Every woman's breasts are different. It's up to you to find the best position that helps you express your milk to the maximum.
- You can also experiment with expressing, massaging, expressing, and massaging again.
Step 5. Collect the milk that comes out in a container
If you're expressing just to make your breasts feel more comfortable, you can express the milk onto a towel or do it in the sink. Here are some things you can do if you "do" want to save the breast milk for later use:
- Use a breast milk bag to store the milk that comes out.
- Express breast milk directly into the bottle for later use.
- If needed, use a funnel to direct the milk to the container of your choice.
- Use a wide-mouthed container, such as a coffee cup or small jar. Once the cup is filled, transfer the breast milk to a storage container.
Step 6. Repeat the same process on the other breast
Change the position slightly on each breast to express all the stored milk. Switching from one breast to the other will stimulate milk production even more.
Tips
- Have a towel nearby to wipe up spilled or dripping milk. Expressing milk by hand doesn't always direct the milk that comes out where you want it. Be prepared to wipe up spilled milk on your shirt.
- Expressing breast milk by hand sometimes takes a few tries to get the hang of it. Try again if the first try doesn't produce the results you expected.
- Use either hand to express milk. Some mothers choose to use their right hand, if they are used to using their right hand; while left-handed women tend to use their left hand. Use whichever hand is most effective.
Warning
- Do not pull on your nipples to express milk. The area around the nipple is where you have to press to get the milk out of the store.
- Don't squeeze your breasts. Breasts may feel sensitive while breastfeeding. Squeezing the breast can be painful.
