When to Express Breast Milk
- Mother is unable to breastfeed (e.g., sore nipples)
- Infant has difficulty feeding directly from the breast (e.g., weak suck, unable to latch)
Before expressing breast milk, make sure:
- Mother is able to produce breast milk
- Mother has access to clean cup to collect breast milk
- Mother has received counseling on breast milk expression and proper storage of breast milk
You need
- A clean and sterilized container like a cup
Follow these steps
- Wash hands with soap and water
-
Hold the breast with fingers and thumbs cupped around the breast in a "C" shape, near but not touching the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). Follow these steps in a rhythm that mimics that of an infant breastfeeding:
- Press: Press fingers and thumb back towards the chest
- Compress: Compress the breast between fingers and thumb, moving them slightly towards the nipple without lifting them from the breast.
- Release: Release without moving hand from the breast
- Repeat: Repeat, moving hand to a different place around the breast after every few compressions or whenever milk flow stops, compressing all of the milk ducts.
- Feed infant expressed breast milk from a cup or spoon
Source: UNICEF- Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling Cards for Community Workers.
Source: UNICEF- Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling Cards for Community Workers.
How to Store Expressed Breast Milk
Freshly expressed breast milk stored in clean containers is safe for up to the following times:
| Kitchen counter (<26 °C) | Refrigerator (4 °C) | Freezer (-18 °C) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-6 hours | 4 days | 6 months |