The Art of Hand Expression & Breastfeeding
Amidst the wealth of tools and techniques available to support breastfeeding mothers, one method stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness: hand expression. In this post, we'll explore the art of hand expression, delving into its benefits, techniques, and the profound connection it fosters between mother and child.
Unlocking Nature's Design
Breastfeeding is not only a fundamental aspect of infant nutrition but also a deeply intimate bond between mother and child. Hand expression taps into the innate wisdom of the body, allowing mothers to harness the power of their own hands to provide nourishment and comfort to their babies. From ancient times to the present day, hand expression has been a cornerstone of breastfeeding practices, reflecting the symbiotic relationship between human physiology and maternal instinct.
Importance of Learning Hand Expression
One of the most profound aspects of hand expression is its ability to empower mothers. Unlike mechanical breast pumps, which can feel impersonal and cumbersome, hand expression puts mothers in direct control of the breastfeeding process. Through gentle massage and rhythmic compression, mothers can express milk with precision and ease, tailoring the experience to suit their individual needs and preferences. This sense of agency can be empowering, particularly for new mothers navigating the complexities of breastfeeding for the first time. One study even showed that mothers who used hand expression early in their breastfeeding journey were more likely to continue breastfeeding than those who use breast pumps.¹
Research has shown that hand expression can be more effective at removing milk in the first days after birth when the colostrum is thick and the breasts are swollen.² Because of the thickness of colostrum, pumping it leaves mostly sprays on the side of the bottle that are hard to give to the baby, while hand expression into a spoon or syringe saves every drop. Hand expression can also be used as a technique during and after pumping to increase caloric content³ and remove more milk.⁴ Other perks of hand expression is that you don’t need electricity like with some breast pumps and it’s quieter and less expensive.
Mastering the Art
While hand expression may seem simple in theory, mastering the technique requires practice and patience.
The following technique – press, compress, release – is described in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding:
Hold your breast with your fingers and thumb cupped around your breast in a C shape, near but not touching your areola.
Then:PRESS your fingers and thumb back towards your chest.
COMPRESS your breast between your fingers and thumb, moving them slightly towards your nipple without lifting them from your breast.
RELEASE without moving your hand from your breast.
REPEAT, moving your hand to a different place around your breast after every few compressions or whenever milk flow stops, so that you compress all of your milk ducts. Releasing and repeating rhythmically helps to mimic the action of a baby breastfeeding.
For most moms it’s a process of trial and error – experiment to find what works best for you: when you get a spray of milk from at least one nipple pore (instead of drops or a dribble), you’ve found what works for you.
Allow time at first: the whole process may take 20 or 30 minutes, you can always stop and start again later if you need to. Frequent short sessions are usually more effective than infrequent, longer expressing sessions.
Hand expression should feel comfortable. If it’s not adjust what you’re doing until it feels ok.
This video has a good demonstration of hand expression of breastmilk.
Hand expression is a great way to empower yourself as well as set yourself up for a successful breastfeeding journey!
Citations
¹Flaherman VJ, Gay B, Scott C, Avins A, Lee KA, Newman TB. Randomised trial comparing hand expression with breast pumping for mothers of term newborns feeding poorly. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2012 Jan;97(1):F18-23. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.209213. Epub 2011 Jul 11. PMID: 21747129; PMCID: PMC5332145.
²Ohyama M, Watabe H, Hayasaka Y. Manual expression and electric breast pumping in the first 48 h after delivery. Pediatr Int. 2010 Feb;52(1):39-43.
³Morton, J., et al. “Combining hand techniques with electric pumping increases the caloric content of milk in mothers of preterm infants.” Journal of Perinatology 32.10 (2012): 791-796.
⁴Morton J, Hall JY, Wong RJ, Thairu L, Benitz WE, Rhine WD. Combining hand techniques with electric pumping increases milk production in mothers of preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology 29.11 (2009): 757-764.
