The question of whether it is necessary to express milk after each feeding worries many parents who seek to surround their newborn with care. Every mother wants her child to grow up healthy and happy, and what, no matter how breastfeeding, contributes to the formation of immunity at such a tender age? From this arises an understandable desire to save precious milk and extend the lactation period until the baby reaches a certain age. It is breast milk that is the source of a wide range of minerals and vitamins, amino acids and fats for a growing organism. Sucking on the mother's breast causes periodic contractions of the uterus, which speeds up the process of returning the woman to her prenatal form.

Obstetricians and doctors of the "old school" often advise, doctors of the new formation did not like this opinion, they consider the procedure useless. However, the opinion that developed in the 20th century is still considered dogma by many. There is no single answer to this question, it all depends on the feeding regimen, the amount of milk during lactation in a woman, the appetite of the baby, and individual characteristics.

A woman who feeds a child with colostrum thus strengthens his immunity. Milk is a valuable resource that is important to protect. Recommendations for expressing colostrum immediately before feeding are given by many eminent doctors. In some cases, the mother may indeed need to express milk before feeding. If the mammary glands work too actively, a lot of milk is produced, a feeling of fullness appears, it is difficult for the child to eat - in this case, the procedure will only benefit. Still, you should not get carried away with this, lactation may increase, and the situation will worsen. You can often hear that expressing "front" milk is necessary so that the baby can get to the "back" fatty colostrum. You can hear from a nurse visiting a baby that the child is undernourished precisely because he eats only primary milk.

Modern research proves that there is no difference in the use of these two types, and the problem is simply inflated. Fat content depends on a group of factors: nutrition, body characteristics and even time of day. If the baby is healthy, regularly gaining weight and has good digestion, you should not look for "hind" milk. It is a two-phase dairy product that helps to meet the baby's need for water, food, proteins and carbohydrates of the initial share and fats from remote areas; provides the proper balance of nutrition at a tender age.

What to do with milk after feeding?

If the situation with pumping before feeding is more or less clear, then the debate about whether it is necessary to carry out this procedure after feeding has long captured the forums for parents and even caused more than one discord in the family. In the open spaces of books and on forums, messages flicker that the dairy product can deteriorate and become dangerous to the health of children. The real reason for the appearance of such a myth was the feeding system according to the regimen.

To preserve milk during breastfeeding according to the regimen (6-7 times a day), it is necessary to strain it. Such advice is especially relevant at first, when the child is not yet accustomed to the regimen. When the newborn gets used to this routine, he will suck out the breast completely. If the baby leaves milk without eating a certain part, then its amount may be reduced due to insufficient stimulation of the breast during the sucking process. The female body will receive a signal of excess, the amount of milk will begin to decline rapidly.

Pumping can save the situation for a while, but this process is rather tedious and lengthy for a young mother, so sometimes at this stage she decides not to breastfeed. Why express milk before feeding in this case is determined by the nursing woman herself, but if she plans to continue to preserve milk nutrition for the baby, then this procedure remains mandatory.

Subject to the regimen, the baby is strictly at certain hours, the time for eating is limited. Such a process is completely at odds with the laws of nature, within the framework of which a mammalian cub had access to mother's milk at almost any moment. Over the centuries, the endocrine glands have tuned in to produce a sufficiently large amount of nutrition for newborns; they are not capable of adjusting to the routine in a short time. The best solution would be to switch to on-demand feeding, when the baby is not limited in the amount of food.

At the same time, the child receives a breast every 1.5-3 hours, which favorably stimulates the glands, in contrast to the temporary gap of up to 8 hours when feeding according to the regimen. It is long-term stagnation of milk that provokes its decrease and disappearance. Feeding on demand soon accustoms the female body to the production of a certain amount of milk, there will be no residue for pumping. If, even with this outcome, you continue to use the breast pump, then this will provoke the process of hyperlactation, which is certainly harmful. In addition, this type of feeding allows you to maintain the level of glucose in the blood of the baby at a stable level, without food for a long time, the level drops to critical after 3 hours.

When is it necessary to express milk?

Consider situations where the question does not arise whether it is necessary to express breast milk:

• If mother and child are separated for some time. Why is it important? Sometimes circumstances do not allow a woman to be near her baby for a certain time. Such a downtime can be perceived by the endocrine system as a signal that milk is no longer needed, and turn into a cessation of lactation in the mother. To avoid this, it is advisable to resort to daily pumping up to 10 times a day, the duration of the procedure is at least 15 minutes.
• The short-term absence of the mother is the basis for leaving milk food to the child. This should not be repeated too often, since no breast pump, and even more so a manual method, is not able to replace sucking movements.
• Pumping has to be done when the ducts are blocked with clots or milk fat (lactostasis). The child is not able to dissolve such an accumulation, it must be drained out on its own. Care should be taken, but persistently, until the chest becomes soft. Before the procedure, it is better to do a breast massage, which contributes to the divergence of seals. Be careful, don't be overbearing.
• If the maternity hospital advises to express everything to the last drop, you should not follow this recommendation. This will lead to hyperlactation. It is necessary to squeeze out just a couple of drops.
• For cracked nipples, soreness and swelling before healing, it is possible to resort to a similar method, giving the child a expressed product as an alternative.
• During the period of illness of the mother, when taking medications that are not recommended for nursing mothers, it is necessary to express milk (if the nursing mother has a desire to save it).
• In a situation with a weak or premature baby, the first few drops must be squeezed out by hand. The baby simply does not have enough strength for sucking movements. A similar situation with tight breasts - the baby may not receive enough food due to difficulty sucking.

What to do if there is too much milk?

Often when a woman begins to deal with excess by pumping, but this worsens the situation. Indeed, almost every mother has more milk than necessary, but it is not worth removing the excess earlier than after 24 hours, otherwise the milk will be produced by the body with a vengeance. The best solution would be to put the baby to the breast on demand, when the woman realizes that the breast is filled with excess. Only if contact with the child is impossible for objective reasons, he refuses to eat, or the need arose during the rest of the newborn, you can express some milk to make you feel better. You should not repeat the manipulation more than 1 time in a few days, if possible, it should be completely excluded. Another way to avoid the troubles associated with breastfeeding is to attach the baby as early as possible, preferably a few hours after he is born.

The rule of the "golden mean"

Excessive pumping can serve as a start for the development of diseases of the mammary glands: mastitis and lactostasis. The body will calculate the need based on the expressed and eaten product. The more in this case leaves, the more will come. The chest literally works for wear when stimulated by extrusion. Hence the ill-fated diseases of the endocrine system and breasts, from which pumping, according to the firm belief of our grandmothers, should protect the young mother. Be patient, after some time after giving birth, the process will stabilize, the production of milk by the body will return to its usual course.

With proper organization of feeding, problems with lactation and sucking will not occur, and the breast will become softer and more supple. If the problem persists, then you should contact a specialist with the question of whether it is necessary to express milk after feeding, excessive pumping can provoke milk stagnation. Remember that deficiency is not always associated with the activity of the endocrine system and mammary glands, or even the feeding regimen. Among the obvious reasons, there is an incorrect capture of the nipple halo by the newborn when eating. Precious colostrum from the first minutes will give protection to the child, give him strength and health, and the newly-made mother will relieve the difficulties of feeding the child. The breast will be able to adapt to the needs of the newborn earlier and faster, without bringing any inconvenience to its owner.

How to proceed?

Modern medicine rejects the need to express milk before feeding and pumping milk after feeding. This is an extreme measure, but by no means a daily ritual. Such relics of the past can negatively affect the health of the mother. The decision whether to express milk before or after feeding should be based on an assessment of a combination of factors: the amount of colostrum during lactation, the appetite of the newborn, the feeding regimen, the presence of contraindications and diseases of the mother or child. There is no universal way for breastfeeding that would suit everyone, but if the child is gaining weight regularly, the parent is feeling well, then you should not change the feeding pattern.

The conclusion from all of the above is simple: pumping must be thoughtful. It is quite justified in the first days of your stay in the hospital, justified to increase the amount of milk, but it is good only in moderation. There are cases when it was this process that made it possible to save colostrum and increase its quantity. In contrast, there are stories of provoked mastitis, painful hyperlactation and the disappearance of milk. In any case, manipulations with the mammary glands should take place only under the supervision of a competent specialist and wisely. Why do you need to express breast milk, whether you need to express it or not, the local pediatrician can tell you after weighing the baby.

Do not despair if the amount of milk gradually decreases. After a while, the child will be introduced complementary foods, which can be prepared for him by a nursing dad. But try to keep as long as possible at least a little milk, which is so necessary for your baby. Now you know whether you need to express this precious product, why express milk and how to do it.

Expressing breast milk is a procedure that some new mothers perform regularly. There are usually many working mothers among them, leading an active lifestyle, lovers of long walks with a baby in a sling. It is generally accepted that pumping helps out when a mother needs to leave and skip feeding time, but not everyone is familiar with feeding a baby with expressed breast milk. Let's try to figure out why you need to express breast milk? What are the benefits of this procedure for mom and baby?

Feeding regime - is it important?

Under normal conditions of life of the whole family, a newborn baby is applied to the mother’s breast at its own request - this happens at an interval of one and a half to three hours. In such a short period of time, the mammary gland does not have time to produce enough milk so that the breasts are sufficiently filled. Usually the baby sucks out a small amount of milk, first from one breast, then from the other.

When the baby is fed on demand, lactation remains normal. Often, the mammary gland produces as much food for the newborn as it needs. There is simply nothing to express in this case, since there is no excess milk.

Sometimes mothers who feed their babies on demand and do not experience serious problems with milk residues in the breast after feeding, nevertheless begin to express it, which causes hyperlactation - the mammary gland produces more product than the child eats.

If a mother is breastfeeding a baby, she needs to know the pumping technology, since this can come in handy at any time - no one is immune from surprises

If the feeding regimen is observed, the female breast can wait up to 8 hours for the next breastfeeding procedure. Such an accumulation of milk for the mammary gland is unnatural, and she decides that the product produced is not in demand. Lactation begins to decline.

The technique, features and rules for expressing breast milk at least once in a lifetime are useful to every mother. Its basics must be known if you are breastfeeding a baby.

When is it necessary to express breast milk?

1. During the period when mother and newborn are not together. This happens for various reasons. It is important for the mother to support lactation, so that later she can continue breastfeeding calmly. It is important for the baby, if possible, to receive mother's expressed breast milk from a bottle (see also:). It is necessary to express at least 6 times a day for 15 minutes each breast.
2. Expression of milk is necessary for lactostasis (more in the article:)- an unpleasant disease that often occurs in young mothers - this is a blockage of the mammary gland with a clot of milk or a fat drop, which causes fluid stagnation.
3. Some women also have a painful blockage immediately after giving birth., but it is caused by other reasons. A newly born little man does not eat the amount of milk that comes abundantly from his mother. In addition, it is still difficult for the child to fully grasp the nipple and suck long enough, he gets tired. Then you can’t do without expressing your breasts and the advice of experienced specialists, otherwise you may have big problems with breastfeeding in the future.
4. During the period when milk comes, expressing all the milk without a trace is unacceptable. The mechanism that tells your body that there is too much milk starts in a filled breast only after a day. Expressing excess product earlier than 24 hours will result in the same amount of product.
5. Do you feel that milk is actively coming? Attach the baby to the breast several times, even if he has already eaten. Let the baby be your natural breast pump, because even a drop drunk by him will bring you relief. In the event that the child is fast asleep or flatly refuses the breast, expressing milk cannot be avoided.

Lactostasis is an unpleasant disease in which milk expression cannot be avoided. The chest in this case becomes swollen and painful.

Preparing for pumping

Prepare the following:

1. Comfortable temperature compress, moderately warm (you can take a hot shower).
2. Non-greasy baby cream without fragrances and medicinal additives (can be replaced with massage oil).
3. A special device for expressing milk - (if not, you will have to).

Relax your body and prepare your chest for pumping. To do this, make a warm compress from ordinary gauze moistened with water, take a shower - this will improve the outflow of milk. Then it is good to massage the breast from the base to the nipple. Smooth spiral movements with hands moistened with baby cream or massage oil will help you expand the ducts. Massage should be performed not only before decanting the breast, but also during. Straining can be done manually or with a breast pump (we recommend reading:). Work on the chest as much as necessary for the disappearance of seals and pain. As soon as you feel that the seals have disappeared and your health has improved, stop. Pumping your breast to the last drop of milk will keep your lactation at the same level.

It is most convenient to express milk with a breast pump - it repeats the shape of the baby's lip grip and makes the procedure painless

How to express properly?

What should be the correct pumping without the help of a breast pump?

• Take a wide cup and wash it thoroughly, preferably with boiling water.
• Wash your hands. Sit comfortably with the cup under the breast you are about to express.
• The fingers should be positioned as follows: the thumb should be on the halo of the chest above the nipple, and the index finger should be under the nipple.
• Make pressing movements inward in a certain rhythm: press and release, then again and again.

The main indicator that you are doing everything correctly is the absence of pain. If in the process of expressing the breast it hurts, then you need to change the technique.

During pumping, milk will first flow in streams, then drip. After the flow has subsided, move your fingers to the sides of the nipple and continue decanting for another 2-5 minutes. Worked one chest - proceed to the second. In total, the process of manually decanting the breast takes up to half an hour, if you do not take into account the preparatory procedures in the form of a massage, shower or relaxing compress.

What problems can arise when pumping?

Often, young mothers are faced with a situation where the breast hurts a lot, the nipple is tight and painful. You will not be able to feed the baby normally, nor can you express milk. Massages and showers usually don't help. Many experienced parents advise using a warm bottle in such cases.

Take a liter plastic bottle with a 3 cm neck. Wash it before the procedure. Then pour warm water into it to keep the container warm. Wrap the bottle in a towel or cloth, pour out warm water, judge the neck of the bottle and attach it so that it completely embraces the nipple from all sides. Heat promotes the production of oxytocin. The nipple will begin to retract into the bottle, milk will flow. After a few minutes, when the flow subsides, remove the bottle and express by hand.

Remember that this method is not too painless for the nipples, resort to it in extreme cases. In order to avoid extreme situations, rest more often, do a massage, drink warm tea and herbal infusions.

How often and for how long can you express breast milk?

There are times when a mother is sick, then normal feeding of the child is impossible. It is necessary to express milk with the same frequency with which feeding is carried out under normal conditions - this is done to maintain lactation.

If you have discomfort in your chest, nodules and lumps, then you need to express after each painful attack until relief occurs. If the nipple is cracked, feed the baby with expressed milk from a bottle for one to three days, during this period, try to heal effectively in order to restore breastfeeding.

Remember that you cannot mix breast milk expressed in several doses and give it to your baby from a bottle (see also:). The famous domestic pediatrician Komarovsky is especially opposed to this.

The main rule of pumping - the less and less often, the better. Nothing can replace the direct contact of the newborn with the mother's breast. For you, repeated and constant pumping threatens lactation disorders (see also:). In the event that it is time to wean the baby, and there is still a lot of milk, do not get carried away with the breast pump either. Lactation will gradually fade away on its own.

There is probably not a single moment in breastfeeding on which every mother would not have her own opinion. Take, for example, pumping. Some women, relying on the experience of previous generations, believe that breast milk must be expressed after each feeding; others claim that this can only be done under certain circumstances. Who is right?

What was before

Previously, a nursing mother was advised to express her breast after each feeding, otherwise there would be excess milk, lactostasis and mastitis, and besides, it was believed that pumping promotes milk production and the baby certainly will not remain hungry. Yes, pumping increased the amount of milk, but this did not take into account the fact that the mother's breast adapts to the needs of the baby - and produces milk exactly as much as the baby sucks. It is now known that if after each feeding the breast is additionally expressed, then the body of a nursing woman receives incorrect information about how much milk needs to be produced, and produces more and more of it. As a result, pumping "leftovers" can turn into a continuous process: with each pumping, milk comes in, the baby cannot completely suck it out, the mother has to express the leftovers, and by the next feeding milk again comes in excess.

What's wrong here? Excess milk is a direct road to its stagnation (lactostasis), and a woman is forced to constantly express her breasts. It turns out a kind of vicious circle.

What they say now

Today, doctors recommend feeding a newborn on demand, in this mode, he eats the amount of milk that he needs. By the next feeding, the required amount comes again, and no pumping is necessary. Yes, there will be periods of growth of the child when he needs more milk than before, but the baby will regulate this process on his own. At some point, the baby will begin to suck harder and ask for the breast more often than before. At first, it will seem to the mother that there is not enough milk, but in a couple of days everything will stabilize, the milk will begin to come in the right (larger) amount and no pumping, let alone supplementary feeding, will be required.

When pumping is necessary

It turns out that pumping is not necessary at all? Most often yes, but still there are some situations when you simply cannot do without it.

When pumping is necessary:

1. If the baby is premature or weak, he cannot breastfeed himself yet and must be bottle fed.

2. If the mother has a very strong flow of milk, beginning mastitis or the first signs of lactostasis. In general, with a strong rush of milk and lactostasis, it is recommended to apply the baby to the breast more often, but if he is not hungry, then the breast will have to be expressed.

3. If there is not enough milk, but only if it is, and not “I think so” or “my mother-in-law said that I have little milk and I need to pump.”

4. If it is necessary to part with the baby for some time, but at the same time you want to maintain lactation.

5. If a nursing mother is ill and she has been prescribed medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding.

How it works

If you still need to express the breast, then you can do it with your hands or with the help of a breast pump. The advantage of manual pumping is that there are no material costs, but, perhaps, this is all its advantages. There are many more disadvantages: not all mothers know how to express their breasts correctly (even after looking at the instructions). And most importantly, manual pumping is not as effective as mechanical pumping, and in general it is often unpleasant and even painful. But expressing breasts with a breast pump is much more convenient: it quickly helps to express a significant amount of milk, saves time and effort and does not cause pain. The only downside is that it costs money.

How to choose a breast pump

• Do not rely on the opinions of friends and reviews on the Internet: like someone else's breasts, it is impossible to try on someone else's pumping experience.
• Carefully study the model of the breast pump. For a device already purchased or donated, the size of the funnel, the intensity of pumping, the shape of the handle, the number of parts, the noise level may not be suitable.
• The more often you plan to pump, the more advanced and versatile pump you need.
• Strictly follow the instructions supplied with the device. Remember to sterilize your breast pump before each use and keep it clean.
• Do not get carried away: if you use it too intensively, there is a risk of earning hyperlactation - more and more milk will be produced, and as a result, pumping will be endless.

Why Problems Occur

Sometimes mothers say that, of course, a breast pump helps, but they would like it to be about more effect. There may be several explanations for this. Or there is really little milk, and then you need to express at least a couple more minutes after the last drop appears. Or the device itself turned out to be not very suitable for a particular breast .

For example, manual breast pumps are much less convenient and efficient than electric ones. They, in fact, mimic manual pumping, just a little more comfort. However, they are also small in price.

So if you really need a breast pump, then it is better to choose models with high power, decanting both breasts at the same time, electric, stationary, with the ability to change traction and speed. There are no problems at all with such breast pumps: put it on your chest, turn on the button - and go about your business.

As you can see, there is no unequivocal opinion about pumping. With normal well-established lactation, it is not necessary, but it becomes necessary for some problems. The same can be said about the breast pump. And if so, then we feed calmly, focusing only on our situation and the needs of our baby.

Almost every mother during the breastfeeding period sooner or later has to deal with pumping. Even if she is determined to exclusively breastfeed, anything can happen. Starting this procedure, it is important to find out how to express breast milk correctly. It is better to prepare and train in advance so as not to comprehend the basics of this science in a hurry, otherwise you can damage your chest.

Do I need to express colostrum

Expressing milk is a common and long-discussed question, but some moms are also worried about more unusual questions, for example, should you express colostrum?

The answer to this question is not entirely clear. If mom and baby are healthy, close by, and breastfeeding, no pumping will be required. Colostrum is produced in the optimal amount, which does not burden the baby's digestive tract, but maintains its strength.

Expression of colostrum in the first days may be required only in a few cases:

• the baby was born premature or weak and cannot suckle at the breast. Colostrum is offered to him on a spoon or through a pipette;
• the mother cannot feed the child for some time after childbirth - due to anesthesia after the CS or illness. Then, you need to express colostrum with your hands to start lactation;
• with severe neonatal jaundice and prescribed phototherapy;
• with a special scheme for nursing a baby with a low weight.

In some mothers, colostrum begins to stand out even during pregnancy. In this case, it is also not necessary to express it - this will only exacerbate the problem. At the same time, milk after childbirth, or rather, its amount, does not depend on the amount.

Are pumping necessary?

Previously, pumping milk was considered a prerequisite for maintaining lactation, and this made sense - mothers fed babies according to the regimen, and this caused a cessation of milk production. Lactation could only be maintained by additional regular pumping.

To date, WHO and AKEV experts answer the question of whether it is necessary to decant unequivocally - no! This procedure is used only in extreme cases, when there is a direct threat to the health of the mother and baby.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that a healthy mother with normal lactation does not need pumping. However, he emphasizes that today there are few women with a normal hormonal background, whose body will react normally to the remnants of milk in the breast after feeding. It often happens that in response to this, the body “turns off” lactation, believing that there is too much milk.

AKEV specialists are confident that this situation can be corrected by natural feeding without additional pumping. If you make a little effort and often offer the baby a breast, lactation will improve in a few days and reach the required level of lactation. In any case, if there are no health threats, it is up to the mother to decide whether to pump or not, based on the advice of a pediatrician and her own goals.

Do I need to express milk after every feed?

Based on the opinion of the World Health Organization and AKEV consultants, it can be said that women do not need to express after each feeding, unless there is an extremely serious reason for this.

Straining after feedings can provoke the development of hyperlactation and, as a result, constant stagnation or even mastitis. The child simply will not cope with such a volume of milk - he does not need it.

If the mother’s milk supply is low and the child is malnourished (this is noticeable by weight gain), you must first of all try to increase lactation by applying the baby to the breast more often. Nature has provided for all situations, and in a few days the body will adapt to the needs of the child. According to WHO, pumping the breast after feeding to increase lactation can only be used as a last resort.

Do I need to pump my breast before feeding?

In the past, it was often recommended to "clench" the breast before feeding in order to develop it. Modern breastfeeding consultants are of the opinion that there is no need to express the breast before feeding - if the mother and baby are healthy, they were not separated after childbirth, the mother does not take harmful drugs. A healthy baby is quite capable of independently stimulating the production of milk from the mother.

When to Express Milk

There are several situations when pumping milk is necessary to maintain the health of a mother or baby:

• with stagnation (lactostasis), if the baby can not cope on his own;
• during the illness of the mother, if drugs harmful to the child are prescribed. The baby at this time is usually transferred to the mixture, and the mother regularly expresses milk to maintain lactation, imitating the feeding regimen of the child;
• at the birth of a premature or weakened baby, when he cannot suckle himself. Feeding expressed milk will be a much better option for the baby than formula;
• when the breast is overflowing with milk (“stone breast”), the nipple can be deformed and flattened, then the baby will not be able to suck and eat normally. To make it easier for him, the breast is decanted a little - until the “appearance” of the nipple, then the child will cope on his own;
• to conserve milk. If you plan a long separation from the baby (going to work, session, business trip for the whole day), you can pre-extract into a bottle after and between feedings and freeze it by hour X.

Many mothers are interested in the question of whether it is necessary to express milk when lactation is stopped. If breastfeeding ends naturally, breastfeeding occurs gradually, the demand for milk is reduced and the body, accordingly, reduces its production. In this case, there is absolutely no need to express - everything happens very smoothly and without discomfort for the mother.

In the case when weaning is carried out abruptly, for example, due to illness of the mother or other circumstances, the body needs much more time to adapt, and the mother may suffer for some time the unpleasant consequences of the refusal - breast fullness, pain in it or even mild inflammation.

If possible, such a sharp weaning should be smoothed out as much as possible - gradually (once a week or at least every 2-3 days) removing one of the feedings and replacing it with a mixture or other food.

If this is not possible, you will have to express. The main thing is not to empty the breast to softness - this will only stimulate the production of prolactin. When you stop feeding, you can express milk only until relief. If you do not express at all, stagnation, lactostasis, or even mastitis may form.

After pumping, you can apply a cold compress or a cold cabbage leaf to your chest. They well remove the beginning inflammation and relieve the feeling of fullness in the chest.

By hand or breast pump

You can express milk with your hands or with a breast pump. Each mother can choose the most comfortable way for herself, since both have their own advantages and disadvantages:

• expressing breast milk with your hands is available to every mother and does not require any extra costs or additional space;
• in some situations, you can only express with your hands, for example, with severe swelling of the chest (“stone chest”);
• expressing breast milk with a breast pump is a little faster than manually. But at the same time, most devices are most effective with full breasts, and milk is expressed worse from soft breasts, and the mother has to finish their work with her hands;
• The use of breast pumps is prohibited in case of damage to the skin of the breast and nipples.
• any pumping - with hands or a breast pump must be preceded by a light breast massage, which will cause a rush of milk.

If a mother rarely expresses, from time to time, she may well have enough manual option. Breastfeeding consultants consider this method more physiological and safer. If you have to store milk constantly and in large quantities, the breast pump will be a good helper, the main thing is to choose the right model.

How to manually express breast milk

The technique of expressing breast milk is a very important element of the whole procedure. If the technique is not followed, the results can be disastrous. At best, expressed breast milk will unpleasantly surprise the mother with its quantity, and at worst, it can seriously damage breast tissue.

Very many mothers, having tried to express milk for the first time and having received several teaspoons of liquid in response, come to the conclusion that they have hypolactation, the child does not eat up and the whole thing needs to be urgently stimulated. However, if the child normally gains weight, the point here is not at all in quantity, but in the inability to "extract" from the chest without the help of the baby.

Both manual and mechanical pumping require more than just theoretical knowledge. To properly express milk, mom will most likely have to work out for a while. The psychological attitude is also very important - self-confidence and a positive result will help to relax.

Training

In order for the pumping procedure to be effective, mom needs to properly prepare. First of all, you need to wash your hands and chest, prepare a clean container. Then you need to call the tide. You can do this in different ways:

• drink warm tea or any other warm drink;
• apply a warm, damp towel or diaper to your chest;
• hold the baby in your arms (in the first weeks after childbirth, sometimes it’s enough even just to think about it);
• the most effective remedy is a light breast massage before pumping;
• you can attach the baby to one breast and express the second at this time.

After the onset of the rush, you can begin to express breast milk manually or with suction.

For manual pumping, several techniques have been developed that increase the effectiveness of the procedure.

marmet technique

This technique has been specially developed for breastfeeding mothers to make pumping easier. Action algorithm:

1. The thumb and index fingers are located on the border of the areola and the skin of the chest, forming the letter C. The remaining fingers and palm support the chest;
2. The index and thumb slightly compress the chest and move towards the chest, as if clasping the milk ducts. At the same time, they should not slide on the skin, they remain on it and move with it, otherwise scuffs will appear.
3. Then the fingers "roll" along the ducts that lie under the areola, in the direction of the nipple. squeezing it a little.
4. Repeat until milk flows. When the intensity of the return of milk has fallen, you can go to the second breast or change the position of the fingers by moving them a little in a circle.

This technique allows you to express breast milk with your hands during stagnation, since the fingers, moving in a circle, act on all lobes of the breast and help the seals dissolve. At the same time, it is impossible to somehow influence them in a special way - crush, crush, try to stretch!

It is important to remember that trying to squeeze milk out of the nipple is pointless, there is no milk in it. Expressing milk by stretching and squeezing the nipple will only work with a strong milk ejection reflex, although effectiveness will still be questionable.

Nipple squeeze method

Sometimes it happens that a lot of milk has accumulated in the breast, and the nipples have become coarse, painful or completely “flattened out”. The baby cannot grab it and help the mother, so the nipple needs to be reshaped.

To do this, all fingers are placed on the nipple and begin to gently press on it for 3-4 minutes. You do not need to move your fingers - the pressure is static. It softens the breast and allows you to either express painlessly or attach the baby.

This technique allows you to properly express with lactostasis, reducing soreness of the breast and getting rid of excess milk. However, during stagnation, the main thing is not to overdo it and strictly follow the rules for decanting breast milk during lactostasis, so as not to worsen the situation.

Warm bottle method

Another way to soften the breast with lactostasis or excessive stress is the “warm bottle” method. In this condition, manual pumping of breast milk is extremely painful, and the baby cannot take the breast. To alleviate the condition of the mother, you need to heat the bottle (neck width at least 4 cm) with boiling water, and then cool the upper part and grease the neck with petroleum jelly. It is applied to the breast, the nipple gradually begins to retract inward and milk drips from it. When the intensity of the jets drops, the bottle is removed.

How much milk can you express at one time

The amount of milk produced is directly related to the time of pumping. After feeding, it may be very little or not at all, except in cases of hyperlactation. If the mother expresses before feeding, you can get about 50-100 ml of milk. Although this figure is quite individual, a significantly lower result indicates incorrect technique, and not a small amount of milk.

Expressed breast milk should be signed immediately so that you know its expiration date. It keeps well in the refrigerator and freezer. Bottle feeding with expressed milk allows the mother to go away on business, entrusting the baby to relatives or dad.

Common Difficulties and Mistakes

First of all, you need to remember that pumping should not cause pain! If a mother’s chest hurts after pumping or is already in the process, it means that she does not follow the technique - she squeezes too much or fidgets with her fingers over the skin.

If milk is not expressed - the reason is the same, the wrong technique. You need to relax, choose a comfortable position and be sure to try again. Refusing to pump because of the first failure is also a mistake.

If you can't manage on your own, breastfeeding consultants or a pumping service can help. They will show the correct technique and teach the mother to cope with this procedure on her own.

Many conflicting opinions and beliefs have accumulated around breast pumping. It can sometimes be hard to resist established older generation habits or common myths, but breastfeeding is too important a process to risk. Breast pumping is necessary for mothers only in the most extreme cases, and in all other cases, the baby will perfectly cope with milk on its own.

There are many ways to breastfeed your baby. Someone puts the baby on every call and spends with him around the clock. Someone immediately after childbirth goes to work, but the baby is still fed with breast milk. Pumping will help to give the child milk in the absence of the mother. Pumping skills will be useful to any woman: after all, there are a lot of situations when this needs to be done.

Why Express Milk

Expression of milk is the emptying of the mammary glands without the participation of the child. The reasons for pumping can vary. For example:

• It is necessary to express in the first days after childbirth. Someone in order to "disperse" lactation, someone - to get rid of excess milk.
• Medical indications. For example, mothers after childbirth need to take drugs that are incompatible with feeding. Or the baby was born too weak and cannot suckle milk itself.
• If the mother needs to leave for a while, the milk is expressed so that the nanny or relative feeds the baby with the usual food.
• Pumping helps to minimize the consequences of mother's "sins". In particular, many women pump after eating unhealthy foods or drinks. This milk is recycled. The breast has to be freed from milk even after fluorography or chest X-ray.
• If the baby was in intensive care after childbirth, the mother will have to express milk for a long time. Firstly, to maintain lactation, and secondly, to feed the child with this milk.
• This procedure is useful during the treatment of stagnation, lactostasis, and also during the "folding" of lactation, after the completion of feeding.
• Mothers of twins and especially triplets are forced to express themselves in order to at least sometimes take a break from feeding.
• You can express breast milk not only for your child, but also for someone else. Donor milk can be sold or donated to those who need it.

There are cases when a woman breastfeeds a child for many months or even years, but she is never given a chance to express. That is, this procedure is completely optional. But for so many moms, pumping helps regulate their milk supply and gives them some freedom to go to the movies, go shopping, or just visit a friend. These seemingly small things often affect the maintenance of lactation in general.

You can express with your hands, on your own or with outside help (nurse, doctor, husband). There are also special devices - breast pumps. They can be manual (at the end they have a special pear that needs to be squeezed and unclenched by hand) or electric. The electric breast pump does everything by itself. For expressed milk, sterile bottles or special containers are usually prepared.
Test jars are a great alternative to expensive milk containers: they are sterile and have a measuring scale

Training

The process of pumping takes time and energy. To make it as comfortable and safe as possible, you need to carefully prepare.
First you need to prepare containers for milk. Ideally, they should be sterile: use a sterilizer or just hold them over steam.
If the milk is not intended for the baby, you can express over the sink or over the table, laying a soft towel on it.

In order for milk to "flow" faster, you need to speed up its outflow. To do this, it is recommended to take a warm shower before pumping. You can massage your chest with water from the shower head, directing it towards yourself. The water should be warm and pleasant, and the jets should be soft. After that, you need to do a light massage:

1. One hand should be placed under the chest, the second - on the chest.
2. In circular motions, you need to “go through” the entire mammary gland from the ribs to the nipple area.
3. If seals are felt somewhere, you need to massage these places longer.

Hand movements should be soft so that the massage brings only pleasant sensations.

Hormones also affect the outflow of milk. To stimulate yourself, you can look at pictures of your baby or think about him. There is no need for embarrassment here: the sight of a beloved child is guaranteed to provoke the release of oxytocin.

In order not to experience discomfort, you need to take a comfortable position. You can turn off the light and sit in an easy chair, turn on pleasant music. From a medical point of view, the best position for pumping is sitting, leaning forward slightly.

How to properly express breast milk

Having prepared the containers and the chest, you can start pumping. Before starting, wash your hands with soap and water.

1. Place one hand under the chest to hold the mammary gland with it.
2. Place your other hand on your chest - thumb over the nipple, slightly above the areola. Index - under the areola. The fingers should form a C around the areola of the nipple.
3. Squeeze the index and thumb, slightly, as if directing the flow of milk outward. Movements should be rhythmic and smooth. Pumping shouldn't be painful.
4. The lower hand can be released and used to hold the milk collection container.
5. As soon as the flow of milk has decreased, you need to slightly change the place of pressure (position of the thumb). Thus, you need to go through the entire gland in a circle.
6. If lactation has already been established, it makes no sense to express to the last drop, because it simply will not be. Valuable liquid will be formed directly in the process of pumping. You need to stop when the flow of milk has significantly weakened, or the planned volume of milk has been collected.

The position of the fingers near the areola must be changed to free all the ducts

When using a breast pump, you need to do all the preparation, and then follow the instructions for the device. A comfortable posture and complete relaxation will help you survive pumping without injury to the nipples and nervous tension.

When decanting, it makes no sense to put pressure on the nipple - this can only injure it. It is necessary to influence the mammary gland itself.

How often should you pump

There is no general rule regarding the number of pumping per day. Everything is determined in a specific situation. Only some general recommendations can be described:

• If the baby is full-term, was born healthy, took the breast quickly and sucks well, there is no need to express. Attaching a child on demand will be the best prevention of congestion.
• If the child did not immediately take the breast in the first days, for some reason he was lethargic and drowsy, then he will need to be woken up for feeding. If, waking up, the baby actively sucks for less than 10 minutes, you will have to strain the milk for the same amount of time. Everything that has been expressed, it is advisable to give the child from a syringe or pipette. This will need to be done every couple of hours. At discharge, the pediatrician will give his recommendations.
• If the baby was born too early and he was put in intensive care, mom will need to pump every 2-3 hours for 15 minutes, regardless of the amount of milk. This will allow you to maintain lactation by the time the baby is discharged.
• If the breast is literally swollen from a large amount of milk, the breast will need to be emptied slightly before feeding, so that it is easier for the baby to take the nipple. If stagnation and overcrowding are of great concern, you can express completely 1 time per day. If lactostasis begins (a seal appears and the temperature rises) - 2-3 times a day, but not more often! The more often a woman expresses, the more milk will come - a vicious circle will turn out. It is best to do this little by little, until the discomfort is relieved.
• If for some reason the mother is not near the baby, but wants to maintain lactation, she will need to express 7-8 times a day, of which at least once at night is mandatory.

The amount of milk that can be expressed at a time varies from woman to woman. It depends on the stage of lactation, time of day and many other factors that affect lactation "here and now". The average portion of milk in women with established lactation is 130 ml at a time, but you should not focus on this figure. Is there enough milk, look at the weight of the child.

Doing the procedure for the first time

For those who are inexperienced with pumping, it is best to do it under the supervision of a specialist. In maternity hospitals, midwives or nurses are required to help women in this matter. They will show you how to work with your hands and what is the best position to take.
The first pumping should be manual. This will be the softest way for still tender breasts. With this approach, it will be easier to understand your feelings and see exactly what movements help push the milk out of the ducts. It will be possible to "find" the appropriate speed and intensity of movements. If in the future a woman plans to use a breast pump, for the first time you should not set the device to high intensity.

Before the first pumping, it is advisable to watch the video instruction. This will help you make sure you are doing the right thing.

Breast preparation and pumping - video from the Union of Pediatricians of Russia

Storage and use

Expressed milk can be used immediately, stored in the refrigerator or frozen.
If for some reason a woman cannot feed the baby directly from the breast (for example, a painful fissure), she can express milk and give it to the baby in a bottle. Freshly expressed milk does not need to be warmed up in the summer, but if the apartment is cool and it has cooled down a lot during the pumping process, you can warm it up slightly.
Breast milk can be heated in two ways - in a special heater or in a water bath (when a bottle of milk is placed in a jar or saucepan with warm water).

Do not use the microwave to heat breast milk! Microwaves destroy the beneficial properties of this valuable liquid. In addition, you can easily overheat milk.

For those who like to express for the future (for the next few days or completely “in reserve”), a refrigerator or freezer will help to save milk. If one pumping session did not collect enough milk, you can mix portions from different pumpings. But you need to do this only with a chilled product! That is, both portions should stand in the refrigerator for some time, and only after that they can be poured into one storage container.

The shelf life of milk for healthy children and babies who are nursed in the hospital is different.

Table: product shelf life

To defrost breast milk, it is advisable to put it out of the freezer in advance in the refrigerator. If you need to feed your baby urgently, you can defrost the milk at room temperature. Breast milk thaws very quickly, so you do not need to warm it up with anything.
The stock of milk in the freezer is called a “bank”: the date of pumping must be written on each container