Hand Expressing Milk – How to Guide with Videos

Want to learn how to express breast milk without a pump? Hand expressing milk means using your hands to get the milk out, instead of using a machine. Some moms feel it’s more natural and even faster than pumping. Others might need a little more time to get the hang of it — and that’s totally okay. Just remember, like most things with breastfeeding, it gets easier with practice.

Reasons Why Mom Might Need to Hand Express

There are lots of reasons a mom might choose hand expressing milk.

• If your breasts feel too full, expressing a bit can soften them and help your baby latch more easily.
• You can also hand express a few drops onto your nipple or your baby’s lips to encourage feeding.
• Some moms find hand expression more comfortable than using a pump — and it’s free, which helps if buying a pump isn’t an option.
• It’s also a good way to collect milk if you need to be away from your baby for a few hours.
• Hand expressing can relieve engorgement, help with blocked milk ducts, and ease other breastfeeding issues.
• If your nipples are sore, it gives you a break from nursing while still keeping up your milk supply.
• It can even help boost milk production when you’re just getting started.

Hand Expressing Milk – How To

• Before hand expressing milk, take a few minutes to gently massage your breasts. Use your fingers to move in small circles, working around the breast toward the areola. This helps get the milk flowing. Some moms find that leaning forward and gently shaking their breasts can also trigger the milk ejection reflex.
• A warm shower or bath can make milk release easier too. If that’s not possible, placing a warm, wet cloth on your breasts works just as well.
• When hand expressing milk, start by forming a C-shape with your hand. Place your thumb above the nipple and your first two fingers below it, about an inch from the base. Gently press your fingers back toward your chest wall — not downward. If you have larger breasts, you can lift them slightly for better support.
• Now, using the Marmet Technique, roll your thumb and fingers forward toward the nipple. This helps drain the milk reservoirs behind the areola. Repeat this rhythm a few times, and switch hands or rotate around the breast to reach different areas. That way, you express more milk.
• Avoid squeezing your breast or pulling on your nipple — it shouldn’t hurt. If it does, check your hand placement and try again more gently.
• Repeat the steps until your breasts feel softer. The whole process usually takes about 30 minutes.

Helpful Hand Expression Videos

Stanford Medicine – Hand expression video guide.

Global Health Media – Breastfeeding Attachment video

Important Things to Keep In Mind

• Always start by washing your hands before hand expressing milk. Use a clean, sterilized container to collect the milk.
• Make sure you’re in a calm space and have enough time — being relaxed really helps your let-down reflex. Looking at your baby or even a photo can trigger milk flow, too.
• A gentle breast massage before you start helps get things going. Don’t press too hard on your breast or nipple — it shouldn’t hurt.
• Using a Haakaa pump on the other breast while expressing can catch any extra letdown you’d otherwise lose in a breast pad.
• At first, it’s often easier to hand express milk more frequently for shorter sessions, rather than trying to go for long stretches.
• Wondering if hand expressing can damage your breast tissue? Don’t worry — when done gently, it’s safe and effective. One of the benefits of hand expressing milk is that you control the pressure. That lowers the risk of injury. But if your breasts already feel sore or damaged, hand expression might be uncomfortable. In that case, reach out to a lactation consultant to check for issues like a clogged duct or infection.

References and Resources

• La Leche League – International breastfeeding support
• Mayo clinic – Breast milk storage do’s and don’ts