Expressing breast milk is important for mothers who experience breast engorgement or when the breasts are full which may cause pain and discomfort and for mothers who want to continue exclusive breastfeeding while working away from home. The expressed breast milk can be stored in a clean container and stored in cool storage for up to 72 hours. It can be given to the baby through cup feeding which is the preferred method over bottle feeding to prevent extra air from being ingested which may cause excessive gas and to preserve the baby’s sucking mechanism when the mother is able to directly breastfeed. Feeding bottles are also unsafe, difficult to wash and can easily be contaminated. The following are the steps on how to express, store and cup feed your baby:
1. Wash hands and utensils with soap and water. Clean and boil the container that will be used to collect the breast milk.
2. Be at a comfortable position.
3. Gently stroke the breast and place a warm cloth to help stimulate the flow of milk.
4. Put your thumb on the breast above the dark area around the nipple (areola) and the other fingers on the underside of the breast behind the areola.
5. With your thumb and first 2 fingers, press a little bit in towards chest wall and then press gently towards the dark area (areola)
6. Milk may start to flow in drops or sometimes in fine streams. Collect the breast milk in a clean container.
7. Avoid rubbing the skin, which can cause bruising, or squeezing the nipple, which stops the flow of milk.
8. Rotate the thumb and finger positions and press/compress and release all around the areola.
9. Express one breast for at least 3 - 5 minutes until the flow slows, then express milk from the other breast, then repeat both sides again (20 - 30 minutes total).
10. Store breast milk in a clean, covered container. Milk can be stored 6 - 8 hours in a cool place and up to 72 hours in the back of the refrigerator.
11. When taking the breast milk for feeding, reheat the breast milk by pouring warm (not boiling) water on a basin or container and gently dip the container with breast milk until its temperature is the same as body heat. Do not reheat breast milk in the microwave because it may heat unevenly and cause burns to the baby’s lips when feeding.
12. Pour just enough breast milk from the clean covered container into the feeding cup.
13. Give baby expressed breast milk from a cup. Bring the cup to the baby’s lower lip and allow the baby to take small amounts of milk, lapping the milk with his or her tongue. Do not pour the milk into the baby’s mouth.
Additional Tips for Working Mothers
Working mothers are covered by the RA 11210 or the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law which allow mothers to stay at home to exclusively breastfeed their babies. However, for mothers who want to return to work sooner, they can express breast milk at the workplace or at home and teach the caregiver on how to properly reheat and administer the expressed breast milk to the baby. Mothers can have extra time for breastfeeding when returning home and more night and weekend feedings. Mothers can also carry their baby into the workplace with lactation stations and are entitled to a minimum 40 minutes of compensable breastfeeding break in every 8-hour working period.
/AET
References:
• Department of Health (2012). Gabay sa Pagpapasuso at Pagpapakain ng Sanggol at Bata (Infant and Young Child Feeding). Manila: DOH.
• UNICEF (2013). Key Messages Booklet: The Community Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling Package. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/ghana/reports/infant-and-young-child-feeding-counselling-package
• Republic of the Philippines. Congress of the Philippines. (2010). RA 10028: Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2010/03/16/republic-act-no-10028/
