Does Hand Expressing Increase Milk Supply?

Ah, the classic dilemma. You’re a new mom, navigating the whirlwind that is late-night feedings, diaper changes, and an overwhelming amount of advice on how YOU should be caring for your little one and then, there’s the milk supply worry too!

If your supply is a little on the low side, don’t worry. You’re not alone and you definitely shouldn’t be ashamed. Every mother’s nursing journey looks totally different. So many mamas, all around the world, experience this. It’s actually one of the most common challenges in the early days of nursing! 

One thing that pretty much all lactation consultants (like us!), pediatricians, and other moms will tell you is that frequent breast stimulation is the key to increasing milk production. And how do you achieve this magical stimulation? Well, most often, breast pumping is the go-to. But what if I told you that hand expressing, yes, using your hands to express breast milk, is also a super effective way to boost your supply?

Today, I’m going to share some helpful steps and information to help you understand more about hand expressing and creating a consistent milk supply! 

Does Hand Expressing Increase Milk Supply?

The short answer is yes, hand expressing can help increase milk supply. While it might not be as commonly discussed as nursing (this includes pumping and breastfeeding), hand expressing is a fantastic tool in your nursing toolkit that can certainly help stimulate more milk production. Even moms who are nursing can “take the edge off” by hand expressing when they feel full or would like to add a bottle into their baby’s feed!

For moms who are exclusively pumping, hand expression likely won’t be enough to help you fully empty as often as you need. And if you did solely hand express, you’d lose your mind going crazy doing so. An electric pump is definitely preferred if you’re exclusively pumping, and I can help set you up with the right pump with this free pump-matching quiz.

Though, even though an electric pump is preferred, it’s super important to remember that hand expression can still be a useful tool! It’s super good to use if you’ve forgotten a pump part (or the WHOLE pump!) and need to empty ASAP. It’s also helpful if you’re having a lot of pain and need relief (no, this isn’t normal, and if you’re experiencing severe pain, please book a consult NOW and let us help you.)

Sometimes, when you’re pumping and experiencing pain, you still need to empty for some relief. This puts you in a seemingly neverending cycle of continuously being in pain until you fix the problem. Hand expression can help you empty when you need it, hopefully with less pain as a temporary solution.

So, how does it work? Basically, hand expressing is simply using your hands to manually express milk from your breasts. It’s a technique that involves massaging and applying gentle pressure to your breast tissue while your fingers and thumb work together to squeeze out the milk. Sure, it can sound a little old-school, but it’s surprisingly effective and can make your nursing journey much easier for you!

Our Step-By-Step: How To Hand Express Milk

Step 1: Wash your hands and prepare.

Before anything else, you want to make sure your hands are clean! 

This helps to prevent any unwanted germs from getting into your milk. Wash your hands with warm water and hospital grade soap for at least 20 seconds, making sure to scrub in between your fingers, under your nails, and up to your wrists.

Step 2: Get comfortable and relax.

Find a cozy spot where you feel comfortable and won’t be disturbed. Relax your shoulders and take a few deep breaths. The more relaxed you can make yourself, the more chances you have of expressing more milk. 

Stress and tension can make nursing in general so much harder, so give yourself a moment to unwind.

Step 3: Position your hands correctly.

Place your thumb on top of your areola, and your finger underneath your nipple on the bottom side of your areola. Imagine you’re forming a “C” shape with your hand. This will help you apply gentle, firm pressure to stimulate the milk ducts.

Step 4: Gently press and release.

Start by gently pressing back towards your chest, and then compress your fingers forward toward your nipple. Be patient and try a rhythmic, gentle but firm squeeze. 

It’s really important that you don’t pinch or pull, it should feel comfortable and natural. You may notice some little drops or streams of milk after a few squeezes.

Step 5: Switch breasts and repeat steps.

Once the milk flow slows down, switch your hand to your other breast. Gently massage your breasts with your fingers to help the milk flow, and then repeat the gentle squeezing. You can switch back and forth until you feel like you’ve expressed enough.

Step 6: Store or feed the milk.

Once you’re done, transfer the expressed milk into a clean container. You can use it straight away to feed your baby, or store it in the fridge or freezer if needed. 

Just make sure you label it with the date and time for easy tracking. Correct milk storage is super important! PS: feeding your baby is so much easier with this baby feeding log…

Step 7: Clean up and congratulate yourself.

After you’ve finished, wash your hands and any equipment used thoroughly. Keeping everything clean helps your milk stay safe and fresh for your little one. Make sure you give yourself a BIG pat on the back for how much love and care you put in to make sure your baby gets everything they need!

Increasing your milk supply doesn’t have to be hard or painful–ask me how!

And there you have it! With a little patience and practice, hand expressing can become second nature and help your supply greatly. Remember, you’ve got this! Just believe in yourself!

Incorporating some hand expression into your routine to increase your supply is a great idea. So many mothers have found that it can help them feel more in control of their nursing journey. If you’re new to the world of pumping, or a mama just looking for some guidance, feel free to reach out to book a virtual pumping consultation with us. 

We’ve been helping mamas just like you find comfort, support, and positivity. Are you next? Get in touch today or head to the One With the Pump blog to dip your toes in! 

If you’re still feeling a little lost (which is TOTALLY normal, by the way) you should definitely check out The Ultimate Pumping Course. This course helps mothers just like you pump better, pump more and pump pain-free from first pump to last!