How long to manually express

You can choose double pump kits that allow you to express from both breasts at the same time. Avoid using supplementary bottles of formula. If breastmilk is removed, your body will make more; if you leave it in your breasts, you will stop making breastmilk. Breastmilk must be stored correctly to reduce the potential for bacterial growth. Suggestions include:. Unwashed hands and unclean pumps or bottle-feeding equipment can contaminate breastmilk.

Hygiene suggestions include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Children should always be closely supervised near animals and taught how to behave safely around pets. You can help your child overcome anxiety by taking their fears seriously and encouraging them to talk about their feelings.

Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is well managed. Most injuries to babies do not occur by chance - many are predictable and largely preventable. Some children are unsettled the first few nights in a 'big bed'.

Try to be patient, loving and reassuring. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.

All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Babies and toddlers Home Babies and toddlers Breastfeeding - expressing breastmilk. Actions for this page Listen Print.

Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Mothers express breastmilk for a variety reasons How breastmilk is produced 3 ways to express breastmilk Expressing breastmilk by hand Breast pumps Getting started Electric breast pumps General tips for expressing breastmilk Supplementary feeds Storage suggestions Thawing and heating of breastmilk Hygiene is important Where to get help.

Mothers express breastmilk for a variety reasons Mothers may need to express breastmilk for a variety of reasons. The baby may not be feeding well at the breast.

The mother is going back to paid work. The mother may prefer to feed using a bottle with breastmilk. The mother is going to miss a feed and needs the baby to be fed by someone else. How breastmilk is produced Breastmilk is produced and stored inside the breast in tiny sacs called alveoli, and travels to the nipple via milk ducts.

Breastmilk can be expressed by: hand hand-held breast pump electric breast pump. Breastfeeding mums can have breastmilk oversupply and breast engorgement.

Check feeding patterns, techniques and positions. Hand-expressing can also help. Read more on raisingchildren. There are a number of reasons why a breast feeding mother might wish to express milk rather than feeding the baby directly from the breast. Read more on myDr website. You can express breastmilk by hand, or with a manual or an electric pump.

Store expressed breastmilk in special bags or containers in the fridge or freezer. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. Video call. This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional. For more information, please visit the links below:. You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid.

Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid. Please check and try again Agree to Terms required. Thank you for sharing our content. Position your thumb and first two fingers the pointer and middle fingers about 1 to 1. Push straight into your chest without spreading your fingers apart.

If you have larger breasts, you may need to lift and then push your fingers into the chest wall. This rolling motion of the thumb and fingers will compress and empty the milk reservoirs around the nipple. Repeat this rolling motion to drain the reservoir — position, push, roll. Be sure to use both hands on each breast. What to Do Be prepared Wash your hands well and find a clean container to collect expressed milk.

Try massage Try placing a warm wet towel on your breasts for a few minutes before massaging — many women find the warmth helpful. Express milk in place of a full feeding Massage and express from each breast about three times using this pattern.

Express each breast for about 5 to 7 minutes. Massage your breasts for about a minute. Express each breast for about 3 to 5 minutes. Express each breast for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Join our newsletter. Error message. Share with other parents. You may also like Breastfeeding Is your baby reacting to something in your milk? When the flow of milk slows, change the position of your thumb and index finger slightly to start expressing another area of your breast and then repeat your rhythm: push back, compress, roll, and release.

Continue to change the position of your thumb and fingers to move around the breast in a circle, which will allow all areas of the breast to be thoroughly expressed. Alternate between your breasts until all milk flow stops. References: 1. Tips for Flying and Traveling with a Breast Pump. Disposable Nursing Pads.