Kate has asked about the terms alternate massage and breast compression. The
original concept and technique of alternate massage was published in 1968 and
described a technique that helped relieve engorgement and improve the weight
gain of babies. Breast compressions alternated with sucking on the same breast,
not the other breast. Mothers would massage and compress the breast each time
the baby paused between sucking bursts. The reference is:
Iffrig MC. Nursing care and success in breastfeeding. Nursing Clinics of
North America 1968; 3:345-354

This technique was looked at again in 1987/1988 and once more demonstrated
improved weight gain, increased fat content of the milk, and increased milk
intake. The two references for this are:
Bowles BC, et al. New benefits from an old technique: alternate massage in
breastfeeding. Genesis 1987/1988; 9: 5-9,17
Stutte PC, et al. The effects of breast massage on volume and fat content of
human milk. Genesis 1988; 10:22-25

I like to use this technique with babies who cannot sustain sucking, who are
slow or ineffective feeders, and with babies having weight gain problems.
Zoned out newborns often are helped by increasing the internal pressure of the
breast to create a better pressure gradient for them to remove milk.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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