Expressing milk means squeezing milk out of your breast so you can store it and feed it to your baby later. Show
You might want to express milk if:
How to express breast milkYou can express milk by hand or with a breast pump. How often you express your milk, and how much you express, will depend on why you're doing it. Sometimes it takes a little while for your milk to start flowing. Try to choose a time when you feel relaxed. Having your baby (or a photo of them) nearby may help your milk to flow. You may find it easier to express if you cover your breasts with a warm towel first, or after you have a shower or bath. Expressing breast milk by handSome find it easier to express milk by hand, especially in the first few days or weeks. It also means you can express without needing a pump, or an electricity supply. Hand expressing allows you to encourage milk to flow from a particular part of the breast. This may be useful, for example, if one of the milk ducts in your breast becomes blocked. Hold a sterilised feeding bottle or container below your breast to catch the milk as it flows. These tips may help:
Watch a video about expressing milk by hand on the UNICEF website Expressing milk with a breast pumpThere are 2 different types of breast pump: manual (hand-operated) and electric. Manual pumps are cheaper but may not be as quick as an electric pump. You may be able to hire an electric pump. Your midwife, health visitor or a local breastfeeding supporter can give you details of pump hire services near you. The suction strength can be altered on some electric pumps. Build up slowly. Setting the strength to high straightaway may be painful or damage your nipple. You may also be able to get different funnel (the part that goes over your nipple) sizes to fit your nipples. The pump should never cause bruising or catch your nipple as it's sucked into the funnel. Always make sure that the pump and container are clean and sterilised before you use them. Find out how to sterilise baby bottles Storing breast milkYou can store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags:
Breast milk that's been cooled in the fridge can be carried in a cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours. Storing breast milk in small quantities will help avoid waste. If you're freezing it, make sure you label and date it first. Defrosting frozen breast milkIt's best to defrost frozen breast milk slowly in the fridge before giving it to your baby. If you need to use it straight away, you can defrost it by putting it in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Once it's defrosted, give it a gentle shake if it has separated. Use it straight away. Do not re-freeze milk that's been defrosted. Once your baby has drunk from a bottle of breast milk it should be used within 1 hour and anything left over should be thrown away. Warming breast milkYou can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by putting the bottle in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Do not use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk. This can cause hot spots, which can burn your baby's mouth. Storing breast milk if your baby is in hospitalIf you're expressing breast milk because your baby is premature or sick, ask the hospital staff caring for your baby for advice on how to store it. How long does breast milk go away?Some people may stop producing over just a few days. For others, it may take several weeks for their milk to dry up completely. It's also possible to experience let-down sensations or leaking for months after suppressing lactation.
How long can breast milk last out of the fridge?Storing breast milk on the move
It can be kept safely at room temperature for up to 4 hours. Do not worry if you cannot rush your milk to the fridge right after you express. But do refrigerate the milk as soon as possible. Keep it cool when travelling, using an insulated container with reusable ice packs.
Why is breast milk no longer good after 4 hours?If breast milk is left out after being used for a feeding, you may wonder whether it can be used for a subsequent feeding. Milk storage guidelines recommend discarding leftover breast milk after two hours because of the potential for bacterial contamination from your baby's mouth.
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