Hand Expressing Breast Milk

Expressing milk by hand takes a little practice, but you should learn this useful skill. Hand expression is a technique every nursing person should know. It can be used in conjunction with or in place of pumping, and it's always available — no equipment needed.

Why Learn Hand Expression?

• It's free and always available
• It can relieve engorgement
• It's useful for stimulating let-down before pumping
• It can be more comfortable than a pump for some people
• It's a practical backup if your pump breaks or is unavailable

The Technique

Place your thumb and first two fingers about 1 to 1.5 inches behind the nipple. Press inward toward the chest wall, then compress the fingers together and roll forward. The motion is press, compress, release. Avoid squeezing the nipple itself.

Rotate your fingers around the breast to empty different ducts, and switch breasts when the flow slows. With practice, hand expression can be just as effective as a pump.