Manual Expression of Breast Milk: Marmet Technique

 

The Marmet technique for hand expression has long since been the gold standard for teaching moms how to hand express breast milk.  Having the ability to hand express breast milk comes in handy if you want to harvest colostrum, alleviate a clogged milk duct or just need to get the breast milk flowing for the baby who needs extra encouragement to latch.  

Before you begin, prepare both your body and your mind, by using massage or warm compresses as well making the environment comfortable and conducive to relaxation which will help with let-down.  

If you need a faster method for expression, a quality manual breast pump like the Spectra Manual Pump is great for occasional use and very affordable.  If you are working and breastfeeding, choose a double electric breast pump instead.  

Here's to keeping it flowing,

Tanya

Haakaa Breast Pump - Breast Milk Catcher

Whether you are using a double electric breast pump for work or exclusively breastfeeding at home, having a breast milk catcher is beneficial.

In the first six to eight weeks postpartum your breast milk supply has not yet regulated.  Using a silicone breast pump as to catch milk on the opposite breast is a great way to improve milk supply and begin storing milk for upcoming work or emergencies.  Many exlusively nursing mothers have called us with questions as to how to get a stash for an unforseen trip or medical procedure.

A silicone breast pump, when used properly is a great tool.  To use the Haakaa Breast Pump, squeeze out the air.  Then make sure you are establishing a seal with the flexible flange by everting the mouth of the flange, much like you would roll a pair of socks.  Then as you place the silicone breast pump on the breast empty of air, the suction will be created and the lips of the flange will roll back into place and securely onto the breast.  Watching the How to Use the Haakaa Breast Pump video is helpful.

If you prefer to manually express milk, rather than passively collect milk while nursing, the Hygeia Manual Expression Cup is a wide mouth cup with bottle that will catch milk when hand expressing.  We recommend using a heavier glass bottle so that it will be more stable or using a bottle stand
with your bottle to keep you from crying over spilled milk!

For the best hand expression technique, the Marmet Technique for hand expression is widely used.

You will want to massage the breast first, place your hand is a C hold and then follow the instructions for manual expression as outlined by Chele Marmet, MA, IBCLC. Below is a short summary, but I would encourage you to view the full article.

Collecting breast milk passively or hand expressing breast milk is a helpful tool in using expressed breast milk to entice the baby to the breast, using manual expression or the Haakaa to evert the nipple and even later on to collect breast milk for storage or adding to baby foods.  If you have flat or inverted nipples, Haakaa also has an Inverted Nipple Corrector that works well.

Cheers to breastmilk, however you cghoose to extract it!

Tanya