There are many reasons why breastfeeding mothers need to express breast milk, for example because they have returned to work or because there are sores on the nipples that make the mother feel pain while breastfeeding. Expressing breast milk can be done in two ways, namely by hand or with a breast pump.
Babies aged 0-6 months at least need to be breastfed every 2-4 hours so that they get adequate nutrition for their growth and development. However, this is certainly difficult to do if you are a worker or not at home all day.
So that your little one can still get breast milk even though the mother is not always with the little one, the mother can express the breast milk every 3 hours and store it in the freezer. In addition, expressing breast milk is also important to stimulate the mother's breasts so that they do not stop producing milk.
Expressing breast milk can be done by hand or with a breast pump. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. So, choose the method that is most comfortable for you.
Expressing breast milk by hand
Expressing breast milk by hand is the most natural and simple way to express breast milk. Mothers don't need to buy tools or bother with pumping equipment if you express breast milk directly by hand.
This technique also allows you to push milk from a certain part of the breast, so it's useful if one of the milk ducts in your breast is blocked. If you want to express breast milk by hand, make sure you follow these steps:
- Wash hands with soap and warm water.
- So that the process of expressing breast milk goes more smoothly, try to create a comfortable atmosphere so that the mother feels calm and relaxed when expressing breast milk.
- Squeeze and massage the breast gently from the top of the breast to the nipple to promote the flow of milk.
- Place a clean container under the breast.
- Place your thumb on top of your breast and other fingers under your breast.
- Feel the breast area, especially around the areola (the dark colored part that surrounds the nipple), for soft texture changes that resemble small bumps. Place your thumb behind this mound and start pressing it repeatedly until the nipple releases milk.
- If the milk is not flowing smoothly, try giving a warm compress to the breast for a few minutes to increase the flow of milk.
You may need 1-2 minutes for the milk to come out. The milk that comes out is sometimes only in the form of drops before finally flowing quite profusely. If the flow of milk slows down, try to massage all parts of the breast before moving to the other breast.
Do this process until the flow of milk has completely stopped or you have got the amount of milk you need.
Expressing Breast Milk Using a Pump
There are two types of breast pumps that you can use, namely:
electric pump
For some breastfeeding mothers, an electric pump is an easy and practical option. Especially when using a double electric pump that can express milk from both breasts at once. Its use is also practical, you only need to attach the pump funnel to your breast and turn on the breast pump machine.
Manual pump
Before expressing breast milk using a manual pump, you need to massage your breasts first. Once the milk starts to come out, use a manual pump while continuing to massage your breasts. This method can allow you to get more breast milk.
Expressing breast milk using a manual pump does require a lot of practice. In addition, you are at high risk of breast infection if the pumping method is not correct or if the pump is not clean.
Therefore, this type of pump is only suitable as an alternative if an electric pump cannot be used or if your mother's condition does not allow you to express breast milk by hand.
A few tips to be able to express breast milk smoothly
So that the process of expressing breast milk goes smoothly, you can follow the following tips:
Keep the breast pump clean
If you choose to use a manual or electric pump to get expressed breast milk, pay attention to cleanliness and procedures for using it. Improper use can make the nipples cracked or bleeding.
Treat injured nipples
If your nipple is injured, apply a few drops of breast milk on the injured area. Breast milk contains substances that can help wounds heal and fight infection. Do not use lotion, soap, or perfume on injured nipples as they can irritate the nipples.
If the pain is unbearable, you can give a warm compress to the breast and take the pain reliever paracetamol at the recommended dose. However, if the sores on the nipples do not heal, immediately consult a doctor.
Try not to stress
Stress can make it harder for your breast milk to come out. Therefore, regardless of the method of expressing breast milk that you choose, either using a breast pump or directly by hand, do it patiently and calmly. Pumping breast milk can also be done casually as a way to increase the amount of expressed breast milk.
In order to get used to expressing breast milk properly and correctly, you can learn the management of expressed breast milk and how to store expressed breast milk properly. If you have problems or questions about how to express breast milk, you can consult a pediatrician or a lactation consultant at the hospital.