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Expressing, Pumping & Storing BreastmilkFeeding Your Baby

Introduction

Some parents may want or need to use expressed breastmilk with their baby, while others may not need to express breastmilk at all.

On this page, you’ll find step-by-step guides on breast massage, expressing breastmilk by hand, pumping breastmilk, storing and preparing your expressed breastmilk, and thawing or warming breastmilk.

Expressing breastmilk

Expressed breastmilk

Some parents may want or need to use expressed breastmilk with their baby, while others may not need to express breastmilk at all. There are many reasons why you may want to express your breastmilk. Expressing your breastmilk will:

  • help build and keep your milk supply
  • collect breastmilk for your baby as needed
  • help keep you more comfortable if your breasts are full or engorged

Other reasons you may need to express your breastmilk:

  • your baby is not able to latch
  • your baby is sick or born preterm
  • you’re going to be away from your baby for longer than 2 hours
  • you’re going back to work before your baby has weaned

You’ll find it easier to express your milk after:

  • your baby has breastfed
  • your baby’s first feed in the morning—this is when you have more milk
  • you put a warm, moist cloth on your breasts
  • you use gentle breast massage
  • you’ve touched or cuddled your baby

At first, you may only be able to express very small amounts of milk. One breast may make more milk than the other. As you become more comfortable with expressing by hand or with a breast pump, your milk will flow more easily. After a few days, your milk supply will increase. The amounts may be different each time you pump.

Tips when you express breastmilk:

  • Choose a comfortable place.
  • If your baby is not with you, take reminders of them along, such as a piece of clothing with their scent or a recording of your baby that you can listen to or watch.
  • Use relaxation techniques before and while expressing, such as music and deep breathing.

If you’re a partner

Expressing and pumping can be a lot of work. Ask your breastfeeding partner about how you can help. Some breastfeeding parents find it helpful when their partner::

  • Brings a warm moist cloth for their breasts before they begin pumping
  • Puts music on to help them relax
  • Takes care of the baby while they are pumping

Breast massage

Massaging your breasts before expressing milk will help start your milk flowing, may help you express more milk and increase your milk supply. Massaging your breasts before breastfeeding can help with your let-down, if needed. You can also do breast massage before and while your baby is feeding.

When doing breast massage:

  • Always handle your breasts gently so you don’t damage the delicate tissue.
  • Put a warm cloth on your breast before massaging.
  • Support your breast with one hand and massage with the other.
  • Place the flat part of your fingers palm side down on your breast.
  • Massage your breasts in small circular motions, from your chest towards your nipple and massage your entire breast.
Illustration of person massaging right breast with right hand using small, circular motions from their chest towards their nipple. Right hand is palm-side down on the breast; left hand is supporting the breast from underneath. During breast massage, entire breast should be massaged, from the chest towards the nipple.
Tap or click image to expand

Expressing by hand

Expressing breastmilk by hand is a skill that takes practice. You may not get much milk at first. Even expressing a small amount of milk will signal your body to make more. It may be easier to practice in the bathtub or shower, or after breastfeeding your baby.

To express by hand:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
  2. Put a warm cloth on your breasts, then gently massage them before starting to express.
  3. Put your thumb on top of your breast, not too close to your nipple. Your thumb and index (pointer) finger need to be opposite to each other and about 2.5–4 cm (1–1½ inches) back from the edge of your areola.
  4. Lift your breast slightly with the fingers that are under your breast. Push straight back in towards your chest and gently squeeze your thumb and fingers together, rolling them forward towards your nipple. Keep doing this until your milk starts to flow. Do not squeeze the base of your nipple, as it will stop the milk flow.
  5. Repeat step 3 and 4 a few times in each position as you rotate your hand around your nipple and areola like a clock. If you’re not getting any milk flow, move your fingers back a little. Keep doing this until the milk flow slows and your breast feels soft.
  6. Repeat with your other breast.
Preparing to express breastmilk by hand, person’s right hand is on left breast. Thumb is just above the areola and their remaining four fingers are directly opposite, just below the areola, creating a “C” shape when seen from the front.Illustration of expressing breastmilk by hand. Step 1: With thumb above the areola and four fingers below, right hand pushes breast straight back towards chest. Step 2: Thumb above the areola and four fingers below gently squeeze together. Step 3: Thumb above the areola and four fingers below roll forward, towards the nipple.
Tap or click on images to expand

Expressing with a breast pump

Breast pumps work to express breastmilk by imitating your baby’s sucks. There are different types of pumps you can use.

  • Manual (hand), battery-operated or small electric pumps are used when you pump only once in a while and after your milk supply is established.
  • Hospital-grade electric pumps are used when you’re not able to breastfeed for some time, if your baby is not regularly breastfeeding, or if you’re having problems with breastfeeding. These pumps are better for establishing and maintaining your milk supply than manual pumps. You can rent these pumps.

If you’re expressing milk while in the birth centre, there may be hospital-grade electric pumps for you to use. Ask your nurse to show you where they are and how to use them.

Manual breast pumpPerson seated in a chair, pumping milk from both breasts using a hospital grade electric breast pump.

Here are some tips for pumping breastmilk:

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using and cleaning your breast pump.
  • Only use as much suction as needed to get your milk to flow—pumping should not hurt.
  • Centre your nipple in the nipple tunnel—it should not press against the sides.
  • It could take a few minutes for your milk to start flowing.
  • If you’re pumping one breast at a time, switch between your breasts several times.
  • Pumping both breasts at the same time will help you pump more milk.

Expressing breastmilk

You may find that expressing your milk by hand works well for you or you can buy or rent a breast pump.

Storing and preparing expressed breastmilk

At the birth centre

When your baby is at the birth centre, your breastmilk needs to be handled safely. When storing breastmilk at the birth centre:

  • Ask your nurse for bottle labels that have your baby’s name and your birth centre identification (ID) number on them.
  • Put your breastmilk into the bottles you’re given.
  • Write the time and date you expressed on the label.
  • Ask your nurse to store the labelled breastmilk in a secure refrigerator or freezer right away.
  • If you express breastmilk at home while your baby is at the birth centre, follow the guidelines below. Put your breastmilk in your refrigerator right away. Use ice or freezer packs to take your breastmilk to the birth centre.

To make sure your baby gets your breastmilk, check that the bottle you store it in has your birth centre ID number on it. The bottle label will be checked with your baby’s birth centre ID bracelet at the bedside by 2 people before the breastmilk is given to them.

At home

Here are some guidelines for preparing and storing breastmilk at home:

  • Always use clean feeding equipment.
  • Write the date you expressed your breastmilk on the container with a waterproof marker.
  • Store your breastmilk in the amounts your baby needs for one feeding.
  • Refrigerate or freeze freshly expressed breastmilk that’s not going to be used right away.
  • Do not mix warm expressed breastmilk with cooled or frozen expressed breastmilk.
  • Chill fresh breastmilk for 1 hour in a refrigerator before adding it to a container with already chilled or frozen breastmilk.
  • If freezing, leave a 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) space at the top of the container, as breastmilk expands when it’s frozen.
  • Keep your breastmilk cool or frozen while travelling.
  • If you express breastmilk while you’re away from home, store it in an insulated cooler bag with a frozen gel pack for no more than 24 hours.

Keep the original expressed breastmilk date on the container if you add more breastmilk to it on a different day. Always use the breastmilk in the container that’s been frozen the longest first, even if you have added fresh breastmilk to it.

Check the date

Check the date on the container with expressed breastmilk. Use the one that’s been stored the longest first. Throw out any that is past the storage time.

Storing expressed breastmilk

Here are some guidelines on where and how long you can store your breastmilk.

Where it can be storedHow long it can be stored

At room temperature

If you’re not planning to feed your baby fresh breastmilk within four (4) hours after expression, refrigerate or freeze the breastmilk right away

Breastmilk with additives: Feed fresh breastmilk to your baby within four (4) hours of mixing with additives. If not used right away, keep fresh breastmilk with additives in the refrigerator until time to warm and feed.

In an insulated cooler bag with a frozen gel pack

Up to 24 hours at 4 °C (39.2 °F) or lower

In the refrigerator—not in the door

Up to 4 days (96 hours)

Up to 3 days (72 hours) if you’re taking your breastmilk to your baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Breastmilk with additives: Feed breastmilk to your baby within 24 hours of mixing with additives

In the freezer of a 1-door refrigerator

Up to 2 weeks

In the freezer of a 2-door refrigerator or a side-by-side refrigerator

Up to 3 months

In the chest or deep freezer

Up to 12 months at -18 °C (-0.4 °F) or lower

Up to 6 months at -18 °C (-0.4 °F) or lower if you’re taking your breastmilk to your baby in the NICU

Thawed breastmilk

Refrigerate breastmilk after thawing and feed your baby within 24 hours

Breastmilk with additives: Feed thawed breastmilk to your baby within 24 hours of mixing with additives. Do not refreeze.

Thawing breastmilk

To thaw breastmilk quickly, put it under cool or warm running water or in a pot of warm water. If you don’t need it right away, thaw the milk in the refrigerator. When using thawed breastmilk:

  • Gently shake the milk to mix it back together—the fat in breastmilk may separate during thawing.
  • Refrigerate breastmilk after thawing and use it within 24 hours. Throw it out if it’s not used within 24 hours or if your baby does not finish it.
  • Don’t re-freeze breastmilk that’s already been thawed.

Microwaves

Thawing or warming breastmilk in a microwave is not recommended. Microwaves heat liquids unevenly and form hot spots. This can burn your baby’s mouth and destroy the immune components in breastmilk.

Warming breastmilk

Your baby may prefer warm breastmilk. If you’re using frozen breastmilk, thaw before warming.

Here’s how to safely warm breastmilk:

  • Put the container of breastmilk in a pan of warm water for no more than 15 minutes.
  • Do not cover the lid or nipple with water when it’s being warmed. This can contaminate the breastmilk.
  • Gently shake the container to mix it.
  • Test the breastmilk on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s not too warm to feed your baby. It should feel lukewarm to the touch.
  • Do not put the bottle nipple in your mouth to check the temperature or to clean it. This can pass germs to your baby.

Feed breastmilk using a dropper, spoon, cup or bottle. Learn more about preparing feeding equipment and feeding your baby by bottle.