Hand Expression: A Simple Skill to Boost Milk Supply
- Chelsea Lactation & Postpartum Care
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
If you’re preparing to breastfeed, you may have heard a lot about latching, pumping, and “milk coming in.” But there’s one simple technique that can make a big difference at every stage of your breastfeeding journey — and it doesn’t require any special equipment.
It’s called hand expression.
Hand expression means using your hands to remove milk from your breasts. This could be used in addition to your baby or a pump, or sometimes in lieu of either. It’s gentle, effective, and incredibly useful — whether you’re still pregnant, just home with your newborn, or well into breastfeeding.
Why use Hand Expression?
Not everyone has access to a pump, but almost anyone can successfully learn Hand Expression. You can collect milk into a clean spoon, syringe, or cup—or simply express it without collecting.
Unlike a pump, hand expression gives you complete control over what's happening, allowing you to respond to your body in real time. It’s especially effective for collecting colostrum, which is thicker and often difficult to collect with a pump.
During Pregnancy: Collecting Colostrum Before Birth
Starting around 36–37 weeks of pregnancy, most moms can safely begin doing hand expression (with your healthcare provider’s approval). This is sometimes called antenatal colostrum harvesting.
Practicing hand expression before your baby arrives can help you:
Stimulate your milk-making cells early on.
Collect small amounts of colostrum to bring to the hospital.
Get comfortable with body parts you may have never handled.
Feel confident with what your body can do.
Even a few drops are incredibly precious — especially if your baby needs extra support with blood sugar or feeding after birth.
Each practice session can be just a few minutes, once or twice a day. You can store expressed colostrum in sterile syringes or small containers in your freezer.
⚠️ Always check with your care provider before starting hand expression during pregnancy — it may not be recommended in high-risk pregnancies or if you’ve had contractions or bleeding.
In the First Days After Birth
Once your baby arrives, hand expression becomes a powerful tool for building your milk supply and helping your baby get every drop of colostrum.
It’s especially helpful if:
Your baby is sleepy or having trouble latching
You want to encourage your milk to come in sooner
You need to express milk to supplement early feeds
You want to ease engorgement once your milk is flowing
Research shows that frequent hand expression in the first 24–48 hours can help parents make more milk sooner, especially when combined with skin-to-skin and direct breastfeeding.
Even after your milk comes in, using hand expression after feeds can boost production and relieve fullness.
Beyond the Newborn Stage
Hand expression is a skill you can use throughout your breastfeeding experience. Once you’ve learned it, it’s always available — no cords, no pump parts to clean, no setup.
It can help you:
Relieve pressure or prevent clogged ducts if you miss a feeding
Express milk when a pump isn’t nearby
Soften the areola to help baby latch more easily
Apply milk to soothe sore nipples or dry skin
Having this simple, natural skill in your toolkit gives you flexibility and confidence — wherever you are in your feeding journey.
A Quick How-To
Wash your hands and get comfortable.
Make a “C” shape with your thumb and fingers just outside the areola.
Press back toward your chest wall, then compress and release rhythmically.
Rotate your fingers around the breast as flow slows, and switch sides as needed.
Warm compresses, massage, and gentle relaxation can help milk flow more easily.
The Bottom Line
Hand expression is one of the most valuable — and underrated — breastfeeding skills you can learn.
It can help you:
Build milk supply naturally
Collect and save colostrum before birth
Support your baby’s feeding in the early days
Relieve fullness and maintain comfort
You already have the tools you need — your hands, your body, and a little guidance.
Want to Learn Hand Expression with Expert Support?
If you’re in the Ottawa–Outaouais region (Chelsea, Cantley, Wakefield, Masham, Gatineau, Ottawa), I can help you learn hand expression confidently — whether you’re expecting or already postpartum.
🌿 Prenatal hand expression sessions: Learn how to express and collect colostrum safely before birth, so you can start your feeding journey prepared. Contact me to book.
🤱 Postpartum lactation visits: Get help using hand expression to support your baby’s feeds, boost supply, or relieve discomfort in the first weeks after birth. Contact me to book.
✨ Book your private lactation consultation today to learn hand expression step-by-step and build a strong milk supply from the start. Click here to book an in-home consult with me.
