Expressing your milk: a practical guide

Learning how to express milk can be very practical for mothers who have chosen to breastfeed. Indeed, it can help the baby to latch on at the very beginning of breastfeeding, allow the father to participate in feeding the baby by offering breast milk in a bottle or extend breastfeeding when returning to work. Whatever your reasons, it is important to do it correctly to avoid hurting yourself and putting the baby's health at risk with poorly stored breast milk. As an e-concept store dedicated to female intimacy, Gapianne had to offer you a complete guide on expressing milk. Find in this article everything you need to know about the different methods and best practices for storing your milk properly.

Different methods for expressing milk

There are different methods for expressing milk. The choice of one or the other depends mainly on your needs: helping baby to latch on, producing milk in the long term, etc.

Expressing milk manually

The first method is to express your milk manually, in other words with your hands. It is mainly used in the first few days, in particular to activate the milk flow at the very beginning of breastfeeding, but you can use it occasionally. It has the advantages of being economical and easy to implement. Furthermore, hand expression is the one that allows you to collect the most colostrum. This method may be sufficient if you express your milk occasionally but can be tiring in the long term and you may find relief by purchasing a breast pump.

Expressing milk with a manual breast pump

The manual breast pump is the most economical breast pump. It is operated by hand, via a pump, and has the advantages of being practical and easy to use. Like manual expression, this solution may be sufficient if you use it occasionally, when you and your baby are away from each other. However, it is less effective than an electric breast pump, which is more regular, and is therefore not recommended if you want to develop a significant and lasting milk production, particularly if your baby does not breastfeed regularly (breastfeeding pump and/or care by a nanny).

Expressing milk with an electric breast pump

More expensive than the manual breast pump, the electric breast pump is electrically operated (as its name suggests). It generally has several speeds or programs adapted to pump milk efficiently. It has the advantage of being more regular and less tiring than expressing by hand or with a manual breast pump. There are different sizes of electric breast pumps: single, portable, double (two breasts at a time). The portable breast pump can be slipped into your bra and allows you to continue your activities while your milk is being pumped. If you have to pump a lot of milk on a daily basis (breastfeeding, premature baby), the double breast pump will be interesting.

🌈 On Gapianne, we have selected for you the Perifit Pump portable breast pump . Its advantage, the one that made us fall in love: its discretion! Portable and quiet, you can slip it into your bra and start it. It will do its job while you can go about your business. Effective, it will take between 15 and 30 minutes to pump your milk. Ouropinion on the Perifit Pump portable breast pump is ultra positive!

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Expressing milk with a rental breast pump

Hospitals, pharmacies and breastfeeding support organizations provide hospital-quality electric breast pumps for monthly rental. More effective than the individual electric breast pumps you find on the market, they are useful for establishing regular and significant milk production in the event of prolonged separation between you and your baby, particularly during premature birth.

With a rental cost of around €30 per month, the choice of a rental breast pump or an individual electric breast pump will depend mainly on the duration of breastfeeding you plan to do. If you want to set up a breastfeeding pump or continue breastfeeding after returning to work, we recommend purchasing an individual electric breast pump as it will quickly become cheaper.

When and how to express milk?

The frequency and method of expressing your milk depends entirely on your situation and intentions.

You pump your milk to encourage your baby to suckle.

At birth, the first situation you may encounter is that your baby is unable to latch on. The challenge is then to activate and prolong milk production while waiting for your baby to start latching on. To do this:

1. Express your colostrum manually and offer it to your baby. This can motivate him to start breastfeeding.
2. If your baby does not start breastfeeding within 24 hours of giving birth, use a breast pump after hand expression to boost milk production. Express after each attempt to breastfeed (about 8 times a day). At night, do not go more than 6 hours without expressing.

♥️ Are you experiencing this situation even though you have chosen to breastfeed ? Don't panic, don't feel guilty. This situation is quite common. In most maternity wards, the maternity staff will help you find solutions to set up breastfeeding in the first days of your child's life. You can also call on a breastfeeding professional after you return home - the key is to continue to stimulate lactation naturally.

You want to continue producing milk

The second situation that can lead you to pump your milk is a one-off separation from your baby. This can happen in particular during a very premature birth or during your first days alone. In this situation, the challenge is to maintain milk production so that you can continue to feed your baby when you find him again.

1. Pump about 8 times a day, as the average baby drinks 8 or more times in 24 hours. At night, avoid going more than 6 hours without pumping.

💡 Did you know? The more regularly you empty your breasts, the more milk they produce. The amount of milk your breast produces generally adapts over several days to meet your child's progressive needs. Also, don't panic if you miss a pumping session; your lactation will not drop because of forgetfulness.

You are pumping in anticipation of a separation

You may be led to pump your milk in a third situation: to produce milk in the long term to meet your child's needs during a separation (premature birth, care by a nanny) or to set up a hybrid feeding solution (breast pump, breastfeeding and bottle). In this case, the challenge is to produce enough milk and to store it.

1. Start hand expressing as soon as possible after birth. This will allow you to better understand your body and how it works. Once the colostrum has been expressed, you can use a breast pump. Be aware that it is normal for you not to collect much milk in the breast pump during the first attempts.
2. To express as much milk as possible, choose the method that suits you best, both effective and painless. To save time in your busy daily life, you can opt for the double breast pump (both breasts at the same time) or the portable breast pump (which fits in your bra).
3. Pump after a feeding, whenever it is most convenient for you. Some mothers choose to pump in the morning, as the nighttime surge of hormones increases the amount of milk produced at that time for most women. Also, if your baby is only drinking from one breast, we recommend pumping from the other breast.

💡 Our tip: don't wait until the last day before a separation to express your milk! Since your milk production is adapted to your child's needs, it is very possible that you will not be able to express a lot of milk at the very beginning. This should increase little by little. Take a little time to avoid stressing.

Looking to manage milk production?

Milk production usually comes in within 2 to 5 days after giving birth. During this time, express your milk as much as you want to feel good, even outside of baby's feedings, either manually or using a breast pump.

How to express milk with a breast pump? 5 tips

Here are our tips for expressing your milk using a breast pump, manual or electric.

Tip #1 Expressing milk shouldn’t hurt!

The first thing to know when pumping is that it's not supposed to hurt! Pain usually comes from three things: poor positioning, the wrong size of the pump cups, or the wrong speed—or all three! In short, if it hurts, don't push it. Take a break and read the tips below, you should find some answers!

Tip #2 Choose the right domes

The cups (or nipple shields) are the small suction cups of the breast pump that are positioned on your nipple to suck your milk. Their size is essential. Cups that are too large or too small can cause pain by generating uncomfortable and irritating friction and reduce the effectiveness of the breast pump. In fitted cups, the nipple should move freely and be perfectly centered.

To choose the right cups, you need to measure the diameter of your nipple. To do this, stimulate your nipple until your nipple hardens and comes out. Measure it and look at the breast pump manufacturer's nipple size guide to choose the right size.

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Tip #3 Position the breast pump correctly

The positioning of your breast pump depends on its model and manufacturer. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations. Beyond the positioning of the breast shields, you should especially pay attention to how your breast pump is held: you should be comfortable, not painful, and the weight of your breast pump should not weigh on your chest.

Tip #4 Adjust the speed

The breast pump's function is to reproduce your baby's suction. This is why it is necessary to have it reproduce the two phases of breastfeeding: the activation of lactation and the consumption of the milk that flows. Some breast pumps integrate this change of speed naturally while others require manual adjustment.

Generally, the pump speed should be fast (maximum) and the suction low for the first few minutes. When milk starts to flow, slow down the speed a little (about one movement per second) and increase the suction to a level that is effective and not painful. Avoid setting the suction to the maximum setting.

Tip #5 Wash the breast pump

Last but not least: maintaining your breast pump. Please note that it is not necessary to sterilize your breast pump. Simply wash the breast pump accessories with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Rinse well and let air dry, without wiping.

How to store breast milk?

If you are expressing milk for the purpose of feeding your baby (whether you are pumping or going to a nanny’s after you return to work), it is essential to know and understand the rules regarding the storage of breast milk. It is essential to follow these points – your baby’s health is at stake.

Storing breast milk

Pour the collected milk into the bags or storage containers. Our recommendation is to store it in small quantities, from 60 to 100 ml. This will allow you to limit waste; any opened container can no longer be stored. Note the date and time of the milk collection.

Breast milk can be stored:

• at room temperature (20-25°C) for 4 hours
• in the refrigerator (+4°C) for 48 hours
• in the freezer (-18°C) for 4 months

🛑 Warning! These storage times do not “add up”. You cannot store breast milk in the fridge that you have left at room temperature for 4 hours. And if in doubt, always prefer to throw away your milk rather than serve it to your child to limit the risk of infection.

Moving breast milk

Do you need to move your milk to take it to your nanny, for example? It is essential to respect the cold chain. Transport it using a cooler or a simple insulated bag with a refrigeration pack.

Freezing breast milk

If you want to freeze your milk, do it immediately without storing it in the freezer first. And above all, remember that you should never refreeze thawed milk (yes, this is the case for all foods but we prefer to repeat it here!).

How to give breast milk to baby?

You can give your baby breast milk either at room temperature or warmed to your body temperature, which is around 37°C.

Thawing breast milk

If you have frozen your milk, you can defrost it slowly by placing it in the refrigerator (allow at least 6 hours) or in a bain-marie.

Warming breast milk

Do not use your microwave to warm breast milk. For one, this method will heat the milk unevenly, which may burn your baby. For another, heating breast milk reduces its nutritional quality.

To heat milk, prefer instead:

• a saucepan in a bain-marie,
• a bottle warmer,
• the hot water tap.

To avoid burning your child, it is important to always check that the temperature is not too hot before giving him the bottle. To do this, pour a few drops on the inner surface of your forearm or use a thermometer.

🛑 Warning! Milk taken out of the refrigerator must be served within one hour (if you give it at room temperature) and within half an hour if it has been warmed. Any opened bottle of breast milk must be thrown away.