How do I express?

[admin]

-There are many devices you can use to express your milk. You can hand express or use a hand or electric breast pump.
-Whichever method you use always make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry on a clean towel prior to starting. Also make sure that equipment such as pumps are clean and bottles to collect milk are sterilised for required time.
Hand Expressing:
-Sit in a comfortable chair and position yourself so you are relaxed.
-Stroking the breast from the top and sides to stimulate the "let-down" reflex. It also helps to visualise or think about your baby.
-Place thumb and forefinger behind the areola so they are in alignment then press together back into your chest whilst sqeezing gently.
-Release and repeat whilst holding a clean collecting dish under the areola.(note:the dish for collecting the expressed milk only has to be cleaned with warm soapy water and air dried. If the milk is to be stored then the expressed milk must be placed into a sterilised bottle).
Manual/Electric Breast Pump:
-These vary depending on the make and model.
-Always check that the positioning of nipple is in the centre of the pump before commencing as if not centred then damage can occur to the nipple from rubbing on device.