As we discuss hand expressing, can some of you who teach it regularly or
have used it successfully, try to describe the techniques you use?

I have read various instructions. They begin with massage, both in circles
and stroking toward the nipple, then leaning over and shaking them,
essentially slapping them together and apart with your hands. All this in
preparation for expressing.
Then to express, placing the thumb and one/two fingers about mid-breast on
opposite sides of the areola, press them towards the rib cage.
Second, press the thumb and fingers towards each other, putting pressure
into the breast, but not so much that it hurts.
Third, roll the thumb toward the areola, and voila! milk!. Well, sometimes
yes, sometimes no.

Much later, I learned that once this technique is learned, mom would begin
to do it quickly and rhythmically, constantly changing position on the
breast to access all the glands possible.

Sometimes it works beautifully. Sometimes it doesn't work at all. I find
this especially difficult on "meaty" and very large breasts. I feel I'm
missing the boat somewhere. When I tried it on myself years ago, mostly it
hurt. I couldn't find a way to hand express without feeling bruised in the
process.

Can some of you offer better techniques?

--- Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC
--- [log in to unmask]
--- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html