Expressing breastmilk Guide

• Expressing and storing breastmilk

  

  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:

  • baby is sick or preterm
  • mother and baby are separated
  • mother is returning to work
  • to increase milk supply
  • if breasts are uncomfortable or full.

  There are three methods of expressing breastmilk:

  1. hand
  2. hand pump
  3. electric pump.

  Encouraging your let-down reflex

  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:

  • sit comfortably
  • relax – practice deep breathing exercises
  • listen to relaxing music
  • warmth – apply gentle heat from a warm face washer
  • massage – lightly massage your breasts towards the nipple before and during expressing
  • stimulation – gently roll your nipples between your fingers
  • thinking of your baby or looking at a photo of them, while expressing.

  

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• 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.
  
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  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.
  
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  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)

  

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• Storage of expressed breastmilk (EBM)

  Look in your baby’s Personal health record (red book) for more information.

  Thawing and warming of breast milk

  • Frozen EBM must be warmed quickly but NOT in boiling water, as the milk will curdle.
  • DO NOT leave EBM to stand at room temperature to thaw.
  • Place the container under running cold water. Gradually make the water warmer until the milk becomes liquid.
  • Warm the container of chilled or thawed EBM in a jug of hot water until it is body temperature.

  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)	2 weeks in freezer compartment inside a refrigerator 3 months in freezer if separate door 6-12 months in deep freezer
  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!

  1. Microwave ovens should NEVER be used to thaw or heat breastmilk. Their safety is unknown and heating is uneven.
  2. EBM cannot be reheated if your baby does not finish the feed. So warm only a small amount at a time.
  3. Label all breast milk containers with the date and time breastmilk was expressed. Use the oldest milk first.

  Next section: Postnatal care – baby and you

Expressing breastmilk, 23 Mar 2023, [https://www.qld.gov.au/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://www.qld.gov.au/health/children/pregnancy/antenatal-information/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk.