Breast Compression-How to do it
Hold the baby with one arm.
Hold the breast with the other, thumb on one side of the breast, your other fingers on
the other, fairly far back from the nipple.
Watch for the baby’s drinking, though there is no need to be obsessive about
catching every suck. The baby gets substantial amounts of milk when he is drinking with an
open-pause-close type of suck. (open-pause-close is one
suck, the pause is not a pause between sucks).
When the baby is nibbling or no longer drinking with the open-pause-close
type of suck, compress the breast. Not so hard that it hurts and try not to change the
shape of the areola (the part of the breast near the baby’s mouth). With the
compression, the baby should start drinking again with the open-pause-close
type of suck.
Keep the pressure up until the baby no longer drinks even with the compression, then
release the pressure. Often the baby will stop sucking altogether when the pressure is
released, but will start again shortly as milk starts to flow again. If the baby does not
stop sucking with the release of pressure, wait a short time before compressing again.
The reason to release the pressure is to allow your hand to rest, and to allow milk to
start flowing to the baby again. The baby, if he stops sucking when you release the
pressure, will start again when he starts to taste milk.
When the baby starts sucking again, he may drink (open-pause-close). If
not compress again as above.
Continue on the first side until the baby does not drink even with the compression. You
should allow the baby to stay on the side for a short time longer, as you may occasionally
get another letdown reflex and the baby will start drinking again, on his own. If the baby
no longer drinks, however, allow him to come off or take him off the breast.
If the baby wants more, offer the other side and repeat the process.
You may wish, unless you have sore nipples, to switch sides back and forth in this way
several times.
Work on improving the baby’s latch.
The above works best, in our experience in the clinic, but if you find a way which
works better at keeping the baby sucking with an open-pause-close type of
suck, use whatever works best for you and your baby. As long as it does not hurt your
breast to compress, and as long as the baby is “drinking” (open-pause-close
type of suck), breast compression is working.
You will not always need to do this. As breastfeeding improves, you will able to let
things happen naturally.
by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC
