Tips For Expressing Breast Milk

Expressing breast milk allows you to provide your baby all the nutrients found in breast milk even if you are away from him. Here are some simple tips to help you express more milk for your little angel.

Use The Right Tool

First, you have to decide whether you will express breast milk by hand or use a breast pump. Expressing by hand is more economical since it will not cost you anything. But it does take a bit of getting used to. If you prefer the latter, you can choose between a manual and an electric breast pump. Any of the two is fine as long as you ensure that the pump you select will meet your needs. The breast pump must have the right flange fit to maximize breast milk and to avoid hurting your breasts.

Express Frequently

Express more often rather than for longer periods. Instead of pumping twice during the day for 45 minutes, try pumping 6 to 8 times a day for a few minutes. In addition, expressing milk from both breasts simultaneously saves time and also helps in maintaining your body's natural capability to produce milk. Never skip a session as this can decrease milk production.

Time It Right

For most moms, expressing breast milk is usually better in the morning or after taking a bath or shower since they can get a good let down (a reaction that carries milk from the milk ducts into the nipple where the breast pump can suck milk out).

Eat and Drink While Expressing

Naturally, you will feel hungry and thirsty while expressing breast milk so see to it that you eat to your appetite and drink plenty of water. It is very hard to produce milk when you are starving and thirsty. Doing this also increases your milk production.

Be As Comfortable As Possible

Expressing breast milk takes time so you have to think of what you want to do while pumping so you will not get bored. If you find that you pump milk better when everything is quiet, then find a spot that is free from distractions so you can focus and relax. If you like a little distraction, watch TV, talk on the phone, surf the web, read a book or listen to music.

Wear clothes that will make expressing easier. You can wear a nursing dress, nursing bra, a bikini top or an express yourself bra (perfect for hands free expressing) so you can gain access to your breasts without having to undress.

Do A Breast Massage

Before you express, prepare 2 face cloths and a bowl of lukewarm water. Submerge the cloths in the water and place them on each of your breasts for 5 minutes. Remove one cloth at a time or if you are double expressing, remove them at the same time and rub the breasts gently. Always start at the top. Press the breast firmly with the flat of your fingers. Move fingers in a circular motion and focus on one spot for a few seconds before moving to another spot. Use a twirling motion around the breast towards the areola.

Take A Break

Stop pumping breast milk during weekends. Use this time to relax and for exclusive nursing. Exclusive breastfeeding can help stimulate the amount of milk you are able to express and at the same time promote bonding between you and your baby. This is also a perfect time to let your sore or cracked nipples heal.

These easy-to-follow tips promises pain-free breast milk expressing while ensuring your baby gets the best milk possible.

The "Greatly Expectant" Stage of Pregnancy

What do I mean by "Greatly Expectant?" Well, it is a term that I came up with to explain the stage of pregnancy when a woman finds herself pregnant, for perhaps days or weeks, beyond her due date. Some would term this stage "Past-Due," but when I was pregnant with my first child, and three weeks past my due date, I came up with a new term called, "Greatly Expectant." It was a time that I felt like I was literally about to pop! My tummy had grown beyond what I or my husband had ever thought or imagined was possible! I had swollen feet and could no longer fit into any of my shoes! I was only able to fit into one dress, which I called my "tent dress." My clothing options were minimal, I could either wear my "tent dress" or my husband's clothes!

Besides coming to a state of complete clothing despair, it was during this "Greatly Expectant" time that I almost came to a state of complete despair from curious, yet well-meaning, strangers not hesitating to ask me some "Greatly Expectant" questions or sharing their personal opinions! These questions went something like this: "Sooo... When are you due?" or "How many babies do you have inside there???" or "Are you having twins?" To be honest, I did not handle these questions too well. I found myself breaking into tears, right in the middle of the mall, and waddle-running to the closest bathroom to have a meltdown! At the time, I was not able to realize that they had no clue that I was three weeks past my due date and very sensitive! By the way, I do not think that most doctors allow pregnant mommies to get too far into the "Greatly Expectant" Stage these days!

Anyway, I did learn a few things during this time that I would like to share. I learned that it is okay to move up to the next size of maternity clothes and that many pregnant women, especially during the final stages of pregnancy, can feel overly sensitive due to changes in their hormones. This was comforting news! I also learned that I needed to have an attitude adjustment!

I began to think about how amazing it is for a "Greatly Expectant" mom to put a complete stranger at ease, making them feel comfortable to ask her such personal questions or share from their experience of being pregnant. I also came to realize that most people are truly excited for pregnant moms and their new little one who is on his or her way! Pregnancy is an exciting time and even complete strangers share in the excitement & expectancy of new life!

When I think about the joy that the expectancy of life brings to the pregnant mom, dad, family, and complete strangers, I am truly thankful to God for the gift of being able to carry and bear a precious life!

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:13-14