Do you always massage/hand express?

autumngigi · April 2009

When I first started pumping in the hospital, I never was told to massage/hand express. It was only with clogged ducts and eventual mastitis that I've been advised to do so. Now I seem to do it just as second nature, but is it necessary? How about with BF'ing? Today I tandem breast fed 2 of my girls and again found myself massaging/hand expressing. I forgot to ask my LC today what her thoughts were.

socalduo · April 2009

When I massage/compress when I pump, I always get more milk. I also do it when I BF when DD starts to suck multiple times before swallowing. I try to get more to her when my flow slows down.

I found this video really helpful:

https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

14years · April 2009

I do when I am pumping, mostly just to get more milk. ?I haven't ever done it when I was nursing. ?I would think it isn't necessary. ?I read if you use different nursing positions, that should help with preventing clogged ducts. ?