Breastfeeding - Breast Compression

Breast compression is a technique made popular by pediatrician and breastfeeding expert Dr. Jack Newman and helps a baby get more milk at each feeding. Once your baby is latched-on well, breast compression will keep him or her feeding actively for a longer time and to “finish” the first breast offered. This is especially helpful for babies who tend to fall asleep at the breast in the middle of a feeding. Despite what many mothers in the hospital are told, this technique does not raise your risk of getting plugged ducts.

When the baby is drinking milk, you do not need to use any breast compression, but once the baby is no longer drinking and is just nibbling, you can start the technique.

Once your baby has finished the first breast and still wants more milk, you can offer the other breast. Signs that your baby has finished with the first breast are falling asleep at the breast and doing no more opening wide, pausing, then sucking. If the compression does not work at first, it does not mean that you have to switch breasts right away. If your baby comes off the breast by him or herself, you might want to try offering the first breast again to see if he or she will drink more. If not, or if your baby is getting fussy or sleepy because the milk flow is slow, you can change your baby over to the other breast. You can experiment with this technique and do a variation of it that works best for you.