Hand Expression to Boost Milk Supply
- Chelsea Lactation & Postpartum Care
- Oct 23, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 23, 2025
What is Hand Expression?
Hand expression is a simple, low-tech way to remove milk from your breasts - parents have been using this technique for probably as long as they've been having babies. It stimulates milk production, gets colostrum out, relieves engorgement, and is there when a pump isn’t.
Many parents are surprised that hand expression isn’t just for collecting colostrum. It can be a useful skill throughout a breastfeeding journey, whether working on milk supply, managing fullness, supporting pumping, or wanting a way to remove milk that doesn't involve hauling a pump around.
Why use Hand Expression?
Unlike a breast 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 thick, sticky, and difficult to pump.
Also, not everyone has access to a high-quality breast pump, but most of us have hands. Using just your hands, you can collect milk with a clean spoon, syringe, or cup and feed it to your baby. You can also express without collecting, which can help relieve engorgement or gently reduce an oversupply.
Collecting Colostrum During Pregnancy
Starting around 36–37 weeks of pregnancy, most parents can safely begin practicing hand expression (with their healthcare provider’s approval). This is sometimes called colostrum harvesting.
Practicing hand expression before baby arrives can:
Stimulate your milk-making cells early on.
Express small amounts of colostrum to bring to the hospital.
Help you get comfortable with body parts you may have never handled.
Build confidence in 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. 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.
Building Milk Supply After Giving 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 need to express milk to supplement early feeds
You want to support a healthy milk supply long-term
You want to ease engorgement after your milk "comes in"
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.
Hand expression 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.
How to Hand Express Milk
Hand expression often works best when you’re relaxed and unhurried. A warm compress, some deep breaths, and gentle breast massage beforehand can help get milk flowing.
Wash your hands.
Position your fingers.
Place your thumb and first finger about 1–2 inches behind the nipple, forming a “C” shape around the breast. You should be able to draw a straight line from thumb to first finger that crosses the center of the nipple.
Press back toward the chest wall.
Bring your fingers straight back toward your ribcage.
Compress and release.
Gently compress your thumb and finger together, then release. Stay deep and repeat. Think press → compress → release → compress → release.
Find a rhythm.
Repeat this motion at a steady, comfortable pace. Milk may come out in drops or sprays — both are normal.
Rotate finger placement.
As your hand tires or milk flow slows, rotate your fingers around the breast (top, sides, bottom) to drain different milk ducts.
Switch sides as needed.
Alternate breasts when milk flow slows. Some parents get more milk flow by alternating between breasts every 2-3 minutes.
Feel free to experiment with pressure, depth and positioning. If you don’t see milk right away, keep going. Stimulation often comes before visible output, especially in the early days or when supply is still building.
FAQ: Hand Expression
Does hand expression hurt?
It shouldn’t. Hand expression should never feel painful. The phrase "No pain, no gain" never applies to lactation. If it hurts, adjusting finger placement or pressure usually helps.
How often should I hand express?
That depends on your goal. Some parents use hand expression:
A few minutes after feeds
Between feeds to support supply
Alongside or in place of pumping
Even short, frequent sessions can be helpful.
Is hand expression better than pumping?
They’re different tools. In some situations — especially early on, when colostrum volumes are small, or if breasts are engorged — hand expression can be more effective than a pump. Studies show that the best results combine both together.
Can hand expression help increase milk supply?
Yes. Milk removal is the main driver of milk production. Effective hand expression can be a helpful way to increase stimulation.
I'm still pregnant. Is it too early to learn hand expression?
Hand expression is typically considered safe from 36/37 weeks of pregnancy. If your healthcare provider approves, you can begin learning to hand-express before your baby even arrives.
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, and a little encouragement.
IBCLC Support With Hand Expression
If you try hand expression and still have questions about technique, milk output, or how to integrate it with feeds or pumping, personalized support can make the skill even easier and more effective.
✨ Prenatal Breastfeeding Class: Learn how to express and collect colostrum safely before birth, so you can start your feeding journey prepared. Book Prenatal Breastfeeding Class
✨ In-Home Lactation Consult: Get help using hand expression to support your baby’s feeds, boost supply, or relieve discomfort in the first weeks after birth. Book In-Home Lactation Consult