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You can express breast milk by hand or with a breast pump. Always wash your hands and ensure containers and equipment are clean. 

Expressing can be done in addition to breastfeeding or exclusively.

If you are exclusively expressing, you will need to do it: 

• around every 3 hours
• for about 15-20 minutes per breast
• at least once overnight.

1. wash your hands with soap and water
2. find a comfortable, private space
3. use a clean, sterilised container with a wide opening to collect milk
4. if possible, be close to your baby or look at a photo or video of them to help stimulate milk flow
5. gently massage your breast in a circular motion
6. hold your breast in a "c" shape with your thumb and fingers positioned opposite each other on the outer edge of the areola
7. press your fingers and thumb back towards your chest
8. compress your breast together for about two seconds, then release
9. repeat until the milk starts to flow out of the breast and into the container
10. seal the container and label it with the date and time you finished expressing.

• Manual pumps are portable and suitable for short-term use. They should be easy to clean and allow you to control the suction and pumping.
• Electric pumps can express milk from both breasts at the same time and are ideal for long-term use.

A flange is the part of a breast pump that fits over your breast and around your nipple to create a seal, allowing milk to flow into the pump. Most pumps come with a medium-sized flange.

When pumping, your nipple should move freely in and out of the flange without rubbing against it.

Check your pump’s instructions to ensure you have the right flange size, and visit the website for guidance on measuring your nipple and purchasing different sizes.

General steps

1. wash hands and ensure your equipment is clean
2. massage your breast
3. position your nipple in the centre of the flange or shield of the pump
4. following the instructions for your specific pump, start with low suction and gradually increase to a comfortable level
5. express until the breast feels softer, or about 15-20 minutes.
6. seal the milk container and label with the time and date
7. clean the pump parts.

If you express several times daily, the equipment should be washed in warm, soapy water after each use and sterilised every 24 hours.
Check the instructions on the package of your specific pump for more information.  

General cleaning steps:

1. wash hands
2. take the pump apart and rinse it with cold water
3. clean with warm water, a brush, and dishwashing liquid
4. rinse twice in hot water
5. air dry parts upside down on a clean cloth
6. store in a clean, covered container.

Sterilising

There are different ways to sterilise equipment, including:

1. putting the parts in boiling water    for 5 minutes
2. using a microwave or steam steriliser, following the instructions on the package
3. using a chemical sterilising product, following the instructions on the package.
    

To thaw quickly, place a bag of frozen milk in a bowl of warm water and gently swirl until thawed.

To thaw slowly, place a bag of frozen milk in a bowl in the fridge for several hours or overnight.

Warming thawed breastmilk

• warm breast milk to body temperature slowly by putting the bottle or bag in a bowl of warm water
• you can also use an automatic bottle warmer, following the instructions on the package
• test the temperature of the milk by dropping a small amount on your wrist
• never warm in the microwave â€� this can destroy nutrients, heat unevenly and cause burns.

Freshly Expressed milk can be kept:

• at room temperature for 6-8 hours, but should be refrigerated if possible
• in the refrigerator for 72 hours, if stored in the back
• in the separate-door freezer for 3 months
• in a deep freeze for 6-12 months.

Breastmilk that was frozen and then thawed slowly in the fridge can be kept:

• at room temperature for 4 hours or less
• in the refrigerator for 24 hours
• do not refreeze.

Breastmilk that was frozen and then thawed outside of the fridge can be kept:

• at room temperature while feeding
• in the refrigerator for 4 hours or until the next feeding
• do not refreeze.

Thawed breast milk can be used until your baby has finished feeding. Throw away any milk left in the bottle after your baby has finished their feed.