Expressing your milk will mean your baby can reap the benefits of breast milk from a bottle, and will give you a break too.
Why express?
There are several reasons why you may want to express your milk.
These include:
- To ease the discomfort of full breasts
- To help your baby latch on, which can be difficult if your
breasts are too full
- To maintain your milk supply and give your baby the benefit of
breast milk if they are in special care
- To allow someone else to feed your baby if you are going out,
back to work, or need a break.
When can I start?
Ideally it is best to wait until breast feeding is properly
established before you start to express. Getting the hang of
expressing can take practice, and you may only get a trickle of
milk at first. Experiment with expressing at different times of
day. Many women find early in the morning, when your milk supply is
highest, is a good time. Or you could try after a warm bath. You
could also try immediately after a breast feed, or express from one
breast while your baby feeds from the other.
To stimulate your let-down reflex, it can be helpful to express
with your baby nearby. Or, if you are not with your baby, looking
at a photo of them can help to get your milk flowing.
How do I express?
While it is possible to express by hand, the most efficient way to
express is with a breast pump. There are two main types:
- Manual pumps, which require you to squeeze a handle
- Automatic pumps, which run off batteries or mains electricity
leaving you hands free
You can also choose between a single pump or a double one that
allows you to express from both breasts at the same time.
Expressing and storing your milk safely
To avoid tummy upsets, you should sterilise all parts of your
breast pump before use. You can store the milk in a sterilised
bottle with a sealed top, or a special milk storage bag or lidded
container, clearly labelled with the date.
Expressed breast milk should be put in the fridge straight away
and can be kept for up to 48 hours in the fridge, up to a week in
the freezer compartment of the fridge, or up to three months in the
freezer. Thaw it in the fridge or by standing the container in
lukewarm water, and use it as soon as possible and always within 24
hours of defrosting.
Can I combine breast and bottle?
Once breast feeding is established, mixed feeding where you
combine breast and bottle, can be a practical solution if you are
going back to work or need someone else to feed your baby
occasionally.
The Department of Health recommends exclusive breast feeding for
the first six months. If you are planning to combine breast and
bottle, giving your baby expressed milk in a bottle is the
healthiest option. If you use formula, bear in mind that it will
affect the amount of breast milk you produce.