Hand expression is useful technique to use every time before you feed, after you feed and even after you pump.
Did you know your breast milk and amnionic fluid have a similar smell?! Studies have found a baby can identify you by your smell and the smell of your breast milk. There are multiple reasons to hand express milk prior to latching your baby.
During the first few days of life, hand expressing prior to latching will stimulate your pituitary gland and give an extra boost of hormones. This will tell your body to make milk.
When you obtain a few drops of milk on the nipple, your newborn will be more interested in feeding. They are super sleepy, so this will help wake them up!
The colostrum is very thick and full of glucose and live white blood cells. The glucose, even in small amounts will help regulate babies sugar level.
Once your milk comes in, you will go through an engorgement phase. Hand expression during this time will help soften the nipple and release some of the milk. It can be hard for a baby to latch on a very swollen nipple. (I promise this is a short phase)
If you are pumping you want to hand express for around 30-60 seconds right after your session. This will help maintain a milk supply and trigger a hormonal release.
Remember, keep your hand back away from the nipple. Then milk is in the areola, it just comes out of the nipple. Think of a shower head, if you block off some of the holes, it won't work properly. If you pinch the nipple, you are blocking some of the areas the milk releases from.
Here is a short demonstration on hand placement.
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