Postpartum lactation massage techniques

1. Preparation

Wash your hands, clean the breast part except the nipple with soap, and wash the nipple part with water. After cleaning, you can start massaging your breasts.

2. Nipple massage method

The mother uses one hand to support the breast, and uses the other hand to gently squeeze the areola to make it soft. Use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger to hold the nipple vertically on your chest and gently pull it outward. Use three fingers to hold the nipple vertically, and while compressing it, tighten the fingers as much as possible while changing the position, which can be rotated 360°.

3. Breast Massage Method

First of all, the mother can use the whole palm of both hands to move around the breasts along the breast ducts and gently push them toward the nipples to promote blood circulation and clear the breast ducts. If there is a hard lump on the breast, you should push from the soft part to the hard lump until the entire breast becomes soft. Finally, use your thumb and index finger to squeeze around the areola to achieve a more effective lactation effect.

4. Other massage methods

(1) Hot compress massage method: Use a moist and warm towel to wipe the center of the nipple in a circular motion toward the areola. It takes 15 minutes on both sides.

(2) Acupressure massage: Open your hands, place them on both sides of the breast, and squeeze from the breast to the nipple.

(3) Spiral massage: Hold the breast with one hand, and massage the index finger and middle finger of the other hand in a spiral direction toward the nipple.

(4) Circular massage: You need to place your hands above and below the breasts and massage the entire breast in a circular direction.

Moms must pay attention to the technique when massaging. If the technique is inaccurate or excessive force is used, it may aggravate the blockage of the gland ducts, and in severe cases, it may cause inflammation.

In addition, mothers can also push the breasts toward the middle during massage to try to bring the two nipples as close as possible. In this way, the breast base can move more than usual. Put your thumbs under your armpits, hold your remaining fingers horizontally from under your breasts, and tighten your elbows inward to lift your breasts. Wrap your breasts with both hands, and then knead them toward the fingers of each hand as if kneading dough. This massage method helps the baby suck milk more easily.