Express milk
and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist Updated onNicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology. As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.
More about the expertsSabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.When women need to express milk, there can be a number of reasons. Some mothers would like a little more freedom from breastfeeding in their everyday life or would like to provide their baby with breast milk despite having a job. Often, however, it is also medically necessary. Read here when this is the case, how to express correctly and why you need to pay attention to hygiene.
Expressing milk: when is it necessary?
When you express your milk, you are more independent. Maybe you just want to go to the movies or exercise for a few hours. Then it is enough if you express milk occasionally or to stock up on a small supply. When women express milk over long periods of time, it is usually because they return to work quickly or for medical reasons. Common reasons for expressing milk are:
- Separation of mother and baby due to illness, hospitalization, surgery
- weak newborn or premature baby who lacks the strength to suckle
- Cleft lip and palate
- Milk congestion
- poor milk production
Expressing properly - a matter of practice
With the help of a vacuum, the breast pump simulates the baby's sucking on the nipple and thus makes the milk flow. The prerequisite for this is the milk donation reflex. The hormone oxytocin is released during this process.The so-called cuddling or bonding hormone also causes the milk to flow from the milk vesicles into the milk ducts.
Usually the suckling baby triggers the milk ejection reflex. If the milk is to flow without a child, it is usually difficult at first. It is therefore likely that you will feel unfamiliar the first few times when you express milk. Expressing with an electric breast pump can also give a woman the feeling of a "dairy cow". Such thoughts and feelings can make expressing difficult at first.
A gentle massage of the breasts as well as warmth in the form of compresses or a warm shower help to trigger the milk ejection reflex. A photo or the thought of your baby as well as a pleasant, calm and relaxed atmosphere can also support the flow of milk. With a little practice, you will soon be able to express breast milk without any problems.
Expressing milk: which device is the right one?
When pumping milk, women can choose between a hand pump and an electric pump with one or two suction systems. Two suction systems have the advantage that both breasts can be emptied at the same time, saving around 20 minutes. In addition, the suction strength of electrical devices can be varied.
Before you buy a pump, however, you should consider how often you will need it and whether the comparatively expensive electric pump is actually worthwhile. The costs start at around 30 euros for a hand pump and can rise to several hundred euros for an electric pump. The latter, however, makes sense if you have to express milk regularly.
If there is a corresponding medical indication, such as caring for a premature baby, the health insurance company will cover the costs. With a prescription, you can borrow the device from the pharmacy for a few months.
Expressing milk: the right size
Select the correct size funnel-shaped pump attachments: the nipple should not bump against the wall of the funnel, but it should also not sit too loosely. If the pump funnel is too big, it will suck in breast tissue. In principle, pumping breast milk should be painless. If you experience pain, the pump is not seated properly.
Expressing milk: hygiene is important
In order for the milk to last as long as possible, it should be as germ-free as possible. A few simple hygiene measures should therefore be observed before pumping breast milk:
- Clean hands: Wash hands thoroughly with soap or use hand sanitizer
- Clean nipples: Before putting on the breast pump, clean the nipples with water and then dry them with a fresh towel or a disposable paper towel. Soap or other cleaning agents are not necessary, they can irritate sensitive skin unnecessarily.
- Cleaning the breast pump: Thoroughly clean all components after each use with hot water, washing-up liquid and a specially purchased washing-up brush or at 60 degrees in the dishwasher and boil once a day.
- Storage: Store the cleaned breast pump in a plastic container with a lid or wrapped in a clean cloth until it is used again.
Store breast milk
You can find out how best to store breast milk after expressing and how long it can be kept in the article Storing breast milk.
Expressing milk: how often?
How often mothers express milk per day depends on the amount required. Sometimes infants, such as premature babies, are fed exclusively with expressed milk from the bottle. Then you need to express milk at regular intervals. For full supply, the same times apply for pumping as for breastfeeding. To produce 750 milliliters of milk, you need to express milk about every three to four hours - even at night. In the end, you should get around eight to twelve pumping operations in 24 hours.
If you only want to feed expressed breast milk from time to time, perhaps once a week, it is sufficient if you collect the remaining milk on the days beforehand, which can still be expressed after the breastfeeding meal. If women need a daily ration of 750 milliliters and possibly more often, they have to stock up on them in good time.
Expressing milk: when is the best time?
Women who also breastfeed their baby should generally express immediately after breastfeeding. Conversely, there is a risk that the breast will be empty when the baby gets hungry. The best time is usually early in the morning, as sufficient milk has been collected overnight. After the first breastfeeding of the day in the morning, the greatest "yield" can certainly be achieved.
If possible, you should always express milk at the same time. This allows your breast to adapt to the increased demand and automatically produces more milk after a few days during the pumping times.
How much milk express?
The amount you pump depends on your needs. If you only want to express breast milk occasionally and give it with the bottle, it is sufficient to express after breastfeeding until the breast is empty. You can collect small amounts of milk a day in a container.
The amount of milk that pumping produces depends on how often you use the pump. The exact amount cannot be predicted. Just like breastfeeding, regular expressing stimulates milk production. In the first few days after the birth, in particular, it is possible to increase the amount of milk (175 milliliters within 24 hours) than a few weeks later.
Expressing milk: when after giving birth?
In principle, women can start expressing breast milk immediately after giving birth. Women who are not breastfeeding need to use the breast pump regularly to get milk production going.
How long to express milk?
If you are expressing milk after breastfeeding, you should stop as soon as you run out of milk. If your child only receives expressed milk, it is sufficient to work each side of the breast with the electric pump for about 15 minutes. With a dual suction system for both breasts at the same time, pumping milk takes only 15 minutes. If the milk flow stops, a short break often helps.
How many months mothers express milk varies from person to person. If pumping is no longer necessary from a medical point of view or due to other circumstances, you can try to switch to normal breastfeeding. For children who are fed exclusively with expressed milk, the same recommendations for breastfeeding duration apply as for breastfed children. In principle, you can express milk for as long as you want.
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