Almost all mothers in Australia (98%) express milk at some time for their baby in the first six months.
It is important you know how to express milk by the time you are discharged from hospital.
Reasons why some mothers will have to express:
There are three methods of expressing breastmilk:
Whichever way you are expressing, it is important that milk 'lets-down' so that a good quantity of milk is obtained.
Ways to encourage your let-down reflex:
Wash hands with soap and warm water and thoroughly dry. Hold a clean plastic cup/dish under the breast to collect the milk.
1. Gently massage the breast – start from the top of the breast and stroke towards the nipple, massage the underside and repeat several times to ensure that the whole breast is massaged.
1
2. Place thumb and finger diagonally opposite each other on the edge of the areola. Gently press inward towards the centre of the breast, squeezing the finger and thumb together.
2
3. & 4. Repeat with a rhythmic rolling movement, feeling for the milk sinuses – the fingers should not slide over or pinch the skin. Once the milk flow has stopped, move the fingers around the nipple and press again. Repeat the process on the other breast.
3
4
Milk ejection (let down)
Look in your baby’s Personal health record (red book) for more information.
Thawing and warming of breast milk
Breast milk | Room temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer |
---|---|---|---|
Freshly expressed into a clean container | 6–8 hours (26°C or lower) | 3–5 days (4°C or lower) |
|
Previously frozen, thawed in a fridge | 4 hours or less | 24 hours | Do not refreeze |
Previously frozen, thawed outside a fridge in warm water | Completion of feed | 4 hours until next feed | Do not refreeze |
Baby has begun feeding | Completion of feed | Discard | Discard |
Caution!
Expressing breastmilk, 23 Mar 2023, [https://oss-uat.clients.squiz.net/health/children/pregnancy/antenatal-information/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk]
This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://oss-uat.clients.squiz.net/health/children/pregnancy/antenatal-information/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk.