There are certain situations where expressed breast can be given to an infant. Some of these situations include:

i) If the mother is a working woman-ie she is going to be seperated for many hours from her baby.

ii)To releive painful breast engorgement .

iii)To help the baby feed even when the baby is not strong enough eg in premature babies or in certain conditions such as cleft lip/palate where expressed breast milk has to be given via a special feeding bottle.

iv) If the mother has sore nipples (Painful or cracked). She has to keep the breast milk flowing while she allows the nipples to take rest. During this period the baby can be fed by expressed breast milk.

Technique of Expressing Breast Milk

This can be learnt easily if the mother can visit a clinic/hospital and watch a midwife, nurse or even a mother expressing breast milk.

Breast pumps are also available for those who can afford them.

If you don’t have access to a midwife or a health clinic the following tips can help you:

a)Wash your hand with clean water and allow it to dry using a drier or a clean towel.

b) gently stroke your nipple (rolling movement). This is important because it stimulates the milk let down reflex (release of the hormone oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland which in turn acts by contracting the smooth muscle cells that line the ducts of the breast.

c) using rhythmic circular movements massage the breast gently with the three middle fingers.Once this is done the milk flows into the ampulla (a dilated space for each major duct that is draining to the nipple,it acts as a temporary storing space for the breast milk. If the baby is in the same room it may help stimulate the milk let down reflex-visual and sound stimulus.

d) After you have done step “C” above ,gently try to locate your ampullae (Notch like feeling bellow and surrounding the nipple- usually 15 to 20 in number). The trick in the final stage of expressing the milk is to gently squeeze on the ampullae which is located below the nipple using the thumb and index finger while pressing the breast towards the chest wall. If this movements are done rhythmically the milk should flow easily.

Never squeeze the tip of the nipple as this will bead to damaged to the narrowing ducts.

Make sure the milk is collected on a sterile container (usually a sterile container is made by boiling it in water or by pouring the boiling water on a container). Important- Make sure that you allow the sterile container to cool down to normal room temperature, otherwise it will destroy the proteins, vitamins and anti-infection factors in the milk.

One must emphasize that practice is the key .Never give up.

How can I store Expressed Breast Milk?

Expressed breast milk can be stored in the fridge or freezer.

How long can I Store Expressed Breast Milk?

If the milk is kept in the fridge (Not frozen) ,it should be used within 48 hours.

Frozed milk should be used within 3 months.

Reference

i) Review of Medical Physiology- William F Ganong 20th Edition.

ii)Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties- 6th Edition.

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