Expressing milk

There may come a time when you may wish to express if:

• Baby is poorly or in our Neonatal Unit
• You have engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis
• You want to encourage baby to feed in the first few days
• You need to give as a top up
• You're going back to work

It is advised to hand express in the first few days whilst you are producing colostrum. When your full milk has come in you can use a pump as well as some hand expressing.

There are pump loan schemes in the community please speak to your midwife or health visitor for details.