BREAST COMPRESSION

Breast Compression

When a nursing mother feels that her baby still needs to feed but cannot seem to suckle
enough, or is unable to drink all by himself, she can apply what is commonly called breast
compression.

Breast compression is beneficial for both mother and baby for a number of reasons, like:

1. It stimulates natural let down reflex.
2. It prevents colic among breastfeeding babies.
3. It promotes weight gain for the baby.
4. It makes frequent or long feedings unnecessary.
5. It helps prevent mothers from having sore nipples.
6. It prevents recurrence of blocked ducts.
7. It helps mothers to feed effectively even if the baby is used to falling asleep quickly when
sucking.

Breast compression is helpful when breastfeeding runs into problems. When all goes well, all
the mother needs is to feed the baby with one of the breasts and, if the baby does not seem full
and seemingly still asking for more milk, she can have the baby suckle the other side.
But when either mother or child, or both, encounter problems with breast-feeding, the mother
can try breast compression. If you are the nursing mother, here is how you can apply it.

1. The baby held with one arm, cup your breast with the other arm. Put your thumb on top of the
breast while your other fingers slightly press the same breast from the opposite side (under it),
two or three inches away from your nipple.

2. Being alert all the time is not necessary, but you still need to keep a close watch on the
suckling. Guide the baby in such a way that he or she can quickly get the hang of an openpause
type of feeding; this will allow him or her to drink more volume of milk.

When he or she begins to nibble, or he or she stops drinking, compress your breast firmly but
not too hard. Breast compression causes the milk to flow and the baby should start to suck
again.

Keep pressing your breast until your baby stops responding to the compression. If your baby
does not latch away from your breast even after you have released the pressure, pause for a
few seconds and then start compressing again. Releasing the pressure allows you to rest your
hand; it also induces your milk to flow into the baby's mouth again. If your baby ceases to suck
upon releasing the pressure on your breast, it is likely he or she will resume sucking the
moment he or she senses milk. If the baby is unable to drink enough milk, try to recompress
your breast.

3. Go on feeding with compression until your baby stops to drink. Pause until your baby begins
to drink again, without your egging him or her on. If you can sense that your baby has stopped
drinking, let him or her unlatch, or just take him or her off your breast.

4. See if your baby still wants to feed. If he or she does, offer the milk from the other breast.
Follow the same procedure you earlier did with the other side. You can repeat switching one
breast to the other a number of times unless your nipples get sore. Help your baby improve his
or her latch.