Breast Compression - What?
What is a breast compression and when is it useful?
A breast compression is when you take your hand and apply gentle pressure to your breast while baby is latched/nursing. This increase in milk flow leads to an increase in infants intake and stimulates the infant to begin nursing. Also, helps increase milk production because more milk out = more milk made!
When to try Breast Compressions:
Baby is latched/nursing then becomes sleepy
Needs additional encouragement to stay latched, keep nursing & to increase intake
Infant needs additional support for weight gain and/or you have low milk supply
Distractible baby
Full breast
If baby is preterm, was in the NICU and/or always sleepy and not having adequate voids/stools, not gaining after day 5, not waking to feed or if feedings are always taking a long time then its very important you seek out a personalized lactation consult from an experienced IBCLC. In the meantime, do all you can to increase infants intake - Breast Compressions can play a part.
This post does a great job of explaining how to do a breast compression. Please remember that your breast is a gland, not a muscle and gentle pressure goes a really long way. Harder, faster, stronger doesn't apply here! You should not be in pain or discomfort at anytime.
Do you need breastfeeding support? Happy to help!
I offer Office, In-Home (Central PA) and Virtual Consults (where you are!) https://www.melaniemyersibclc.com/services
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