Important Do’s and Don’ts of Expressing Breast Milk

What is Expressing Milk? Expressing milk is a way of extracting milk from the mother’s breasts without a baby needing to suckle. This can be done by hands and manual or electric pumps. Once the milk has been expressed, it can be stored in refrigerators and freezers, depending on the duration for which milk has to be stored.

Now that we know what expressing milk is, let us look at some Do’s & Don’ts of the process:

Don'ts

• Don’t pump in a rush: Don’t be in a hurry while expressing milk. Rushing the process will adversely affect the output.

• Don’t compare your output: We are competitive naturally but it is not beneficial every time. Everybody is different biologically, therefore, will produce results accordingly. Comparing yourself with others and worrying about won’t help; conversely, it will affect your output. 

• Don’t try to express more milk: With machines in play, you might be tempted to express more milk via high power settings in the machine. Don’t indulge in such practices.

• Don’t try to fill the container completely: You have to keep in mind that you have to feed the baby and not the container. Don’t try to fill the containers. Every mother expresses different quantities and the same container is made for everyone. So, filling the container is of no use. How much milk is consumed by the baby is more important.

• Don’t worry about the milk while expressing: We worry a lot and it's very natural to think about different aspects of expressing while at it. However, it's not a healthy practice. Thinking or worrying too much about it will adversely affect the output.

• Don’t use a single-use pump more than once: Single-use pumps are called so for that very reason: they are to be discarded once used. Don’t use it again or borrow one already used as it can lead to infections.

• Don’t feed the milk that looks or tastes differently: It can be very tiresome to express milk but make sure the quality is intact before feeding. Milk gone bad can create problems in the child.

• Don’t store the milk longer than recommended: Ask your doctor for how much time and how you should store the milk after expressing. Don’t exceed the limits. It can cause problems in the child.

• Don’t forget to clean your breast pump: Regularly clean the pump in order to prevent the growth of bacteria in the pump.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself: Massage your breasts before the session and be gentle while pumping.

Do’s

• Meet a lactation expert: Mothers new to this concept ought to have their doubts and fears. Hence, it is advisable that they meet their lactation expert or doctor before starting the process.

• Store milk in batches: To ensure minimum wastage, storing milk in batches is a good practice. Make each batch according to the quantity your child is consuming.

• Properly learn the art of expressing milk: Additional to using pumps, you should also learn to express milk with hands. Emergency cases when pumps aren’t available, you won’t be helpless.

• Collect and store milk in sterilized containers only: Impurities can lead to the growth of bacteria which can cause problems in children. Hence, it is advisable that containers should be properly sterilized.

• Frequency of pumping: You require to pump around 12 pumping sessions daily if you’re feeding expressed milk only. If you’re pumping only when away from the baby and breastfeeding most of the time then pumping sessions every 2-3 hours are optimum to maintain the milk supply.

• Be patient: It takes a few minutes for the milk to start flowing. So, be patient and don’t panic.

• Wash your hands properly before pumping: Hygiene is very necessary throughout the process so make sure it is maintained right from the start.

• Pump at least for 20 minutes each side.

• Get in the mood: While pumping, seeing your baby’s picture, video or clothes releases oxytocin which enhances the output.

• Be ready with reinforcements: You might feel hungry and parched between the sessions. Keep healthy drinks and snacks by your side while expressing.

• Know yourself the best: Purchase the ideal pump suitable to your needs.

• Proper storage is necessary: Store your milk properly to ensure the quality and nutrients stay intact.

Stay Tuned! Stay Relevant!