Why express milk?
Expressing milk is perfect for situations where you can’t breast-feed, need a break, or can’t be with your child but want them to have the nutrients that breast milk provides. Another great reason to express is that it’s one of the ways your partner can bond with your child, by getting involved in feeding.
Expressing milk by hand
Before expressing milk, soften your breasts with a warm flannel, or by taking a shower or massaging them. Then, once you’ve cleaned your hands and sterilised a wide rimmed bowl to collect your milk, you can start expressing.
• Support your breast with one hand then massage down from the top of your breast to the nipple. Work all round it including the underside.
• Now put gentle pressure on the area behind the areola (the dark skin around your nipples) with your thumb and forefinger.
• Squeeze them together and press backwards to release your milk. Be warned though, it can spray in lots of directions!
Expressing milk by electric pump
Using a pump can be quicker and less tiring than using your hands. Remember to soften your breasts with a warm shower or massage beforehand and make sure the pump is thoroughly sterilised before expressing. Depending on the pump you use, it should take 15-45 minutes and shouldn’t cause any pain.
Storing expressed milk
You can store milk in a bottle in your fridge or freezer. But once heated, any unused milk must be thrown away. Remember to date the milk you store - it’ll keep for around:
• 72 hours in the fridge
• One month in a freezer compartment
• Three months in a freezer (although this can reduce the amount of antibodies in the breast milk)
To defrost frozen milk let it stand in hot water until it’s thoroughly defrosted, check its temperature before feeding your child and then use it as soon as possible. Never thaw or warm the milk in a microwave as it will destroys its nutrients.
Practical info about feeding your child with expressed breast milk
If you are expressing and storing your breast milk, we’ve got lots of information in our bottlefeeding section which should help you. You can read about:
• Preparing yourself with some new equipment
• How to sterilise bottles for expressed breast milk