Hand Expression

You can begin practicing hand expression as early as 37 weeks of pregnancy. If you collect colostrum, it can be stored in small collection tubes or syringes (see links below) and frozen for future use.

Collecting colostrum before birth is completely optional. However, becoming familiar with the technique—and finding hand positions that feel natural and comfortable—can be incredibly helpful if you need to use this skill later.

During labor, hand expression (or nipple stimulation in general) can be used to encourage contractions, since it triggers the release of oxytocin—a hormone that supports both labor progress and milk let-down.

After birth, hand expression is a useful tool in many situations. For example, it can help wake a sleepy baby and encourage them to latch, or provide colostrum if direct nursing isn’t immediately possible.