Updated Date: 07.07.2024
How to Milk ?
Expressing breast milk by hand is the best way to express milk. Expressing breast milk by hand is the most economical and most usable method . It does not require any equipment. You can express breast milk anywhere, anytime. The container for expressing milk can be a wide - mouthed cup or glass . The container is first washed with soap and water . Then it is boiled or boiling water is added to the container and it is emptied after waiting for a few minutes . During the expression process , finger movements should be in the form of rolling , the breast skin should not be rubbed with the fingers . The hand should be rotated around the breast . The massage should be applied to the entire breast , including the armpit . The duration of emptying the breasts by hand expression is approximately 20-30 minutes . A warm and wet towel , a hot shower , and gently shaking the breasts while leaning forward facilitate the milk flow . Leaning forward also ensures that the lower parts of the breast are emptied .
Milking can also be done with a pump . For this purpose, there are hand-pulled pumps with a rubber bulb at the end, in the form of a funnel or syringe , or electric pumps . If the pumps are not cleaned carefully, germs can easily grow in them and can be dangerous for the baby .
How to Store Expressed Milk ?
Storing milk is especially beneficial for working mothers . This milk can be given during the hours when the mother is not at home. The mother can also express her milk at work and bring it home, thus preventing the milk from flowing out of the breast while she is away from home . Breast milk that is expressed by paying attention to cleanliness can be stored at room temperature for 3 hours , in the refrigerator ( +4 degrees ) for 3 days and in the deep freezer (below -18 degrees ) for up to 3 months. It should also be stored in suitable containers or bags . Specially produced milk storage containers should be preferred for this purpose , and the date and time of expression should definitely be written on the containers .
How to Give Expressed Milk to a Baby ?
Frozen breast milk taken out of the deep freezer should first be thawed in the refrigerator , not directly at room temperature . The container containing breast milk should be placed in another container filled with hot water to warm the thawed milk and then given to the baby .
It is more appropriate to give expressed breast milk with a spoon or a wide-mouthed glass or cup instead of a bottle . Giving a bottle causes the baby to reject the breast and become confused. A baby who is used to a bottle teat may also lose the habit of latching on well and try to suckle the nipple instead of the breast . This causes cracked nipples and, most importantly, the baby not getting enough breast milk . Even small babies can drink milk from a small glass by using their tongues and licking like a cat.
