hand expression

Question 1

breastfeeding is regulated by hormones, explain that.

Answer 1

mother already knows that having baby near them, anything that is a reminder of baby and massaging the breast stimulates the release of breast milk by promoting oxytocin which is the hormone that works on the muscle cells in the breast causing them to contract and release the milk
what they don’t know is that other hormones come into play: prolactin switches on the milk making cell and FIL is in the milk and alerts the breast to stop producing milk when it is full

Question 2

how would you support a mother to hand express

Answer 2

massage all around the breast and nipple to stimulate oxytocin
place finger in a c-shape above the ring around the nipple
then squeeze without sliding the fingers along the skin,
rotate around the breast
when milk flow slows then move onto the other breast

Question 3

how much should they hand express

Answer 3

to establish a good milk supply you will need to mimic the frequency of your baby’s feed so no less than 8 in 24 hours with at least one night feed.
can also express following a feed to further increase milk supply

Question 4

how to store EBM

Answer 4

in the fridge at temperature of 2-4 degrees for 8 days
in the hospital fr 24-48 hrs
in the freezer 6 months
fridges with an ice box for 2 weeks

Question 5

how to thaw EBM

Answer 5

do not use a microwave instead put in fridge for up to 12 hours at room temperature