Hand Expressing: some information

You can hand express from 36 weeks of pregnancy although some people say slightly earlier. You will have colostrum in your breasts from around 20 weeks however nipple stimulation can cause an oxytocin release which is linked with labour therefore it is advised against before that to avoid premature labour. Being able to hand express is useful if you have issues feeding in the first few days, plus it can be useful to have a supply of colostrum to use just in case. Even if you don’t use it, it’s useful to feel confident with the technique if needed and can be especially useful if you have conditions such as Gestational Diabetes/Diabetes prior to pregnancy, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a strong family history of dairy allergies/IBS or previous breast surgery as some examples. Once expressed, you can store it in syringes in the freezer in a marked bag. If you don't manage to hand express any colostrum however please don't panic - it's not essential to be able to breastfeed successfully!

How to do it:

• Wash your hands with soap before you start so that your hands are clean

• Have syringes ready to collect any milk you express

• You can encourage milk flow by getting the oxytocin hormone flowing beforehand - some people have a warm shower or bath or some people find gently massaging their breasts before expressing can help. If you imagine your breasts are like an orange, gently massaging each segment of the orange is what you’re aiming for!

• To hand express, use your hand in a ‘C’ shape on your breast - putting your thumb and forefinger just outside the edge of the areola and in line with your nipple on either side of your nipple.

• Keeping your finger and thumb on the same spot on your breast, gently push back into the breast tissue and then squeeze forward towards your nipple. Repeat this in a gently rhythm until you see some drops of colostrum appearing at your nipple which will then progress to a steadier flow of milk coming out

• Once this slows, rotate your hands round to try a different angle (like moving around a clock face) and repeat the above. You can do this on both breasts until the milk stops flowing

How to store it:

• You can store the syringes in a freezer bag in the freezer and ideally label the syringes with your name/DOB

• To take it into hospital with you, put it in a cool bag with some ice packs and they will store it in a fridge in hospital in case you use it