There will be times that you will not be able to breastfeed your baby. One solution is to express your milk and store it in a bottle so someone else, like your partner, can feed your baby when you are not there. There are many ways to express breast milk. The best time to express breast milk is in the morning because the breasts are full. Milk supply decreases at the end of the day.
Instructions
1. Find a quiet and comfortable place to express breast milk. Make sure that you are fresh and clean before expressing milk. Take a bath and wash your hands. If you are at work, make sure that your hands are clean. Make sure that all your pumping equipment is clean. Washing your pump right after each use in hot water with soap is the best way to ensure cleanliness. Use a brush to clean the milk bottle and use a clean towel to keep the equipment dry and clean.
2. Make yourself comfortable. Sit on the chair and use a foot stool to keep your feet up. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking enough water, juice or milk.
3. Expressing breast milk by hand is a good way to relieve engorgement. Put a clean cup under the breast. Place one hand on the breast with your thumb and index finger around the edge of the areola. Press the fingers together gently while pressing forward slightly. Imitate the rhythm of a baby's sucking to keep the milk flow. Move to the other breast when the milk finishes dripping.
4. Use a manual pump if you want to express milk faster. Moisten the outer edge of the flange with water to ensure a good suction. Breast milk can also be used to for that purpose. At the start of the pumping session, pump with short pulses. Go for a long steady stroke once milk starts flowing.
5. Use an electric breast pump at work or during travel. Electric breast pumps are made for speed and convenience. Read and follow the instruction carefully. Double pumping is the best option since it saves time and increases milk volume. As in the case of manual pump, moisten the outer edge of the flange with water. Start out at the minimum pumping rate and increases the rate later on. Keep the pump at the lower levels if your nipples are sore.
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