In order for your newborn baby to be full, and mother’s breast milk to arrive and in sufficient quantity, you must be able to express. But this process often causes difficulties. Let's figure out when to express breast milk.
When does mom need to get rid of excess milk?
1. Before each breastfeeding, because the first drops of liquid will clean the mother’s nipple, it will become wet, soft and more supple.
2. After the child eats, because it is necessary to completely empty the chest of residues, thereby giving space for the newly abiding flow.
3. If the baby was born weak or premature, as a result of which it is difficult for him to eat himself. In this case, mother's milk is given during feeding with a bottle or spoon.
4. When the mother does not feel well. In this case, it is not necessary to put the child to the chest, but you need to feed milk.
5. In case of appearance of cracks in the nursing mother on the nipple.
6. To prevent mastopathy during severe lactation. Or, as the people say, a woman needs to be "milked".
Many women, after reading the first paragraph, immediately exclaim: "Yes, but how to express breast milk with your hands?" Now is the 21st century, and there are many different types of breast pumps. Yes, of course, there is, but its use is not always convenient. The breast pump is very useful and will facilitate your "exercises" with the breast, if you are going to start work, and continue to feed the baby. In case of daily release of a small amount of milk, it is better and easier to do it by hand.
How to free glands from milk?
So, how to express breast milk with your hands:
1. First, be sure to wash your hands with soap before each procedure.
2. The breast can be washed with soap in the morning and in the evening (if you used cream or ointment during the day, it is better to remove the product with a cotton pad), the rest of the time it is enough to lubricate with a few drops of milk.
3. Calm down and relax so that the milk stands out well.
4. Massage lightly, then put a warm towel or diaper on a relaxed chest.
5. Sitting in a comfortable position, lean forward slightly.
6. It is necessary to put the index finger and thumb on the areola of the nipple so that the palm takes the shape of a boat and is above the nipple.
7. Press with your fingers towards the chest, very carefully bring them together, slide your hand, and a stream of milk will appear.
8. Before starting actions on their own, in the maternity hospital it is worth asking the nurse for help in order to learn the basics of how to express breast milk properly with your hands.
9. It is necessary to express both breasts every 3 hours.
Conclusion
After reading a little information about how to express breast milk with your hands, you theoretically mastered the first steps. Many doctors recommend that pregnant women learn how to do this before giving birth. This is necessary to obtain the expressing skills of mom, and to prepare the breast for the appearance of milk.
Before we finish talking about decantation, let's consider one more point. How much does breast milk need to be expressed? Each mom will be able to answer this question, knowing that every three hours a child should take 100-150 grams of food.