How to Hand Express Milk

Although it can take a little while to get used to, being able to hand express breast milk is a very useful skill to have. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be able to express anywhere without a pump. It can also help you to stimulate your breast milk supply or encourage a good latch with your baby.

If you’re a new parent who wants to learn the art of hand expressing breast milk without a pump, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide you with essential steps and helpful tips to ensure that you have all the information you need to express with ease. So, read on to discover how to best hand express breast milk.

What is hand expression?

Expressing breast milk by hand involves gently squeezing your breast to get breast milk out and then collecting it in a sterile container, ready to go into storage or to feed to your baby. It can be useful if you don’t have a breast pump or want some quick relief from engorgement.

You can start expressing colostrum by hand before your baby arrives from around the 36^th or 37^th week of your pregnancy. Some parents are only able to collect a small amount at first, but getting started with hand expressing during pregnancy is great practice for when your breast milk fully comes in.

A step-by-step guide on how to express milk by hand

Although using an electric breast pump speeds up the process of expressing breast milk and can help you express more milk, some parents find that expressing breast milk by hand is also a convenient and comfortable option.

Let’s run through the process step by step.

1: Wash your hands and grab a clean container to catch the milk

First, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water and then dry them with a clean towel. You should always wash your hands before expressing and handling breast milk.

Then, make sure you have a sterilised cup, bowl, or a baby bottle to collect your expressed breast milk in.

2: Get comfortable

Find a comfortable seat where you feel supported and relax with a drink. Perhaps listening to a podcast or watching an episode of your latest TV series will help you to relax.

3. Massage your breasts gently

Gently massaging your breasts stimulates the release of oxytocin – an essential lactation hormone that’s released while you’re expressing or breastfeeding. Oxytocin helps to release your breast milk and can also help you to feel calm.

4. Use the C-shape method

Then it’s time to get into position. Healthcare providers recommend that you position your finger and thumb opposite one another, with your thumb at 12 o’clock and finger at 6 o’clock on your breast. This is known as the C-hold.

5. Use a rhythmic movement while pressing your thumb and finger together

You may find that it takes a few minutes for your breast milk or colostrum to start to slowly drip out. Try to be patient and build up a rhythm that’s comfortable for you.

6. Move your thumb and finger around the breast

This will encourage milk from other areas. Once your milk is flowing, you can express from a different area by moving your hands around your breast.

7. Move back and forth between the breasts

When you’ve expressed all the milk you can from one boob, repeat the process on the opposite one, then go back to the first breast. You can repeat this process as many times as feels comfortable.

8. Feed your expressed milk to your baby or store it

Once you’re done, you can either feed your baby the expressed milk right away using a bottle or safely store it in the fridge or freezer to be used at a later date.

How long does it take to hand express milk?

The amount of time it takes to hand express milk depends entirely on the person who’s expressing – the truth is, no experience is the same!

If you just want to express to provide some light relief, hand expression can take five minutes per breast. But if you want to express a full feed, then it may take between 10 and 30 minutes per breast.

How much milk should I hand express for one feed?  

If you’re going to be away from your baby for whatever reason or want your partner to feed them with a bottle so you can have a break from breastfeeding, then you’ll need to express a full feed.

How much is needed varies on the baby’s age and how much they typically take per feed. A newborn typically needs 30-60ml, but after four or five weeks, most babies drink 90-120ml per feed until around six months. This might increase further up to eight ounces for 10-month-olds.

What are the benefits of hand expressing breast milk?

• It’s free: Breast pumps are very clever. They come in various shapes and sizes and vary in price. But using your hands to express breast milk means that you don’t need any equipment except a hand and a suitable collection container. Sometimes, keeping things simple just works.
• It’s convenient: You can hand express anywhere, any time.
• It can increase supply: Hand expressing after a feed or even after a pumping session can encourage more milk to be produced.
• It’s better for immediately after birth: During the early days, breast milk is sticky and still features a high amount of colostrum which can get stuck to the sides of the pump. Hand expression is great because you catch everything and can feed every drop to your baby.
• It can relieve breast discomfort: If you have clogged milk ducts or your breasts have become uncomfortable and engorged, hand expressing can offer quick relief.
• It can encourage baby to latch: Expressing a small amount of milk before a feed can encourage baby to latch on as it softens the breast and makes it easier for baby to feed.

Quick tips for hand expressing milk

Now that we’ve covered what hand expression is and how to do it, let’s wrap up with some top tips to help you get the most out of hand expressing.

1. Use gravity to your advantage 

Leaning forward while expressing can encourage the flow of more breast milk.

2. Put a warm compress on your breast

Warmth encourages breast milk flow.

3. Try in the morning after your baby’s first feed

Some people produce more breast milk in the morning.

4. Try different areas around your breast

Try squeezing different places on the breast, as some areas may push out more breast milk than others.

5. Ask your partner to help massage your breasts before starting

No one is going to complain here! Partners can massage breasts while you’re hand expressing to encourage more breast milk to flow.

6. Have a drink and snack to hand

Expressing is hungry and thirsty work and it’s important that you stay hydrated and energised.

How do parents feel about hand expressing?

Natasha told us that “mastering the art of expressing was not easy – a manual pump was not working, and [she] found an electric pump worked on one breast but not the other. However, when [her] mother expressed for [her] using her hand it would always work”.

Hannah said that “during the last few weeks of pregnancy, [she] was diligent in expressing colostrum ready for [her] boy’s planned arrival at 37 weeks. Even though [she] didn’t get masses, [she] had enough frozen to use for those first few important feeds while [she] was recovering”.

Expressing milk by hand FAQs

• IS IT SAFE TO EXPRESS MILK BY HAND?

  Yes, manually expressing breast milk by hand is safe from around week 36 of pregnancy. Not only is it safe for mum and baby, but it also comes with various other benefits, like encouraging milk supply and relieving breast engorgement.

• DOES HAND EXPRESSING INCREASE MILK SUPPLY?

  Hand expressing alongside using a breast pump can be a great way to boost breast milk production. Research has found it could boost breastmilk output by as much as 48%.

• HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I HAND EXPRESS MILK?

  To help establish breast milk production if you’re not breastfeeding a newborn, you should aim to hand express between eight and 12 times a day, including at least once during the night.

• HOW CAN I HAND EXPRESS MILK INTO A BOTTLE WITHOUT MAKING A MESS?

  You can reduce the chance of getting messy while hand expressing by having a muslin cloth positioned under your breast to catch any drips. You can also have a warm, wet cloth close by to clean up afterwards.

• IS HAND EXPRESSING BREAST MILK BETTER THAN PUMPING?

  Expressing breast milk by hand can be a more reliable method for some people. It’s less expensive, quieter and can sometimes offer more privacy.

  However, the most important thing is that parents and babies both find an approach that works best for them. This can include a mix of hand expressing, pumping, and breastfeeding. Whatever works for you is best!