How to Express and Pump Breast Milk

There are two main ways to remove breast milk from your body: by hand or with a pump. Both methods help you feed your baby when you're apart or when your breasts feel full. They also help you maintain your milk supply.

To keep making enough milk, you need to feed your baby or remove milk from your body 8-12 times every 24 hours. The number of times you usually feed your baby is your "magic number." Stick to that number to keep your supply steady.

Hand Expression

Hand expression means using your hands to remove your breast milk. You can hand express without using a pump.

How to hand express

You can watch this video or follow the steps below:

1. Apply a warm, moist towel to your breast for a few minutes. Gently massage it.
2. Remove the towel. Make a "C" shape with your fingers behind the dark area (areola) around your nipple.
3. Press back toward your chest.
4. Squeeze your fingers together.
5. Keep pressing and gently squeezing until the milk stops flowing.
6. Massage your breast again.
7. Make a "U" shape with your fingers with your fingers behind the dark area (areola) around your nipple. Repeat steps 3-5.

Pumping

A breast pump removes milk by creating suction around your nipple. Pumps can be manual (you operate by hand) or electric (needs power).

WIC offers free pumps and supplies. Talk to WIC staff about which pump is best for you.

How to pump

Setup

• Put the pump together following the instructions.
• Place the breast shield (flange) over your nipple and the dark area around it.
• If the flange feels too big or small around your nipple, try a different size.
• Hold the pump in place with your hands or a pumping bra.

Pump

• Turn the pump to the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes or until milk starts flowing.
• Slowly increase suction to the highest comfortable level. Remember, pumping should NOT hurt.
• You should see milk flowing into the container.
• You can gently massage your breast while pumping to help milk flow.

Finish

• Pump for 10-20 minutes or until your breast feels soft or empty.
• Turn off the pump.
• Label your milk with the date and time.
• Store it in a cooler with ice, the fridge, or freezer.

Follow the CDC’s breast milk storage guidelines.

Clean up

• Wash all pump parts (except tubing) with warm soapy water.
• Let parts air dry.
• Wipe down the pump body with disinfectant if needed.

For more information on keeping your pump clean or how to assemble your pump, visit nevadawic.org.

Practice Makes Perfect

Hand expression and pumping take practice. It gets easier over time. Talk to WIC staff if you have questions.