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Expressing breastmilk

Steps for expressing milk by hand

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 woman placing a hand on the top and bottom of her breast to massage.

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 woman placing her thumb and finger diagonally opposite each other on the top and bottom of areola (area around the nipple).

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 woman holding her breast with thumb on top and four fingers supporting the bottom of the breast; other hand is holding a cup underneath her nipple.

4 woman squeezing her nipple with thumb and bent forefinger; other hand holding cup underneath the nipple.

Milk ejection (let down)

woman squeezing her nipple showing milk ejection (let down)

In this guide:

  1. Expressing and storing breastmilk
  2. Steps for expressing milk by hand
  3. Storage of expressed breastmilk (EBM)

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Acknowledgments

Queensland Health acknowledges the Metro North Hospital and Health Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, for permission to use the content of their GLOW antenatal education resource.

Last updated:
18 February 2021
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