Breast compression is a gentle squeezing technique nursing mothers use to keep milk flowing into their babies’ mouths if they have stopped drinking but are still suckling. This technique may be useful in a range of situations, including when a baby isn’t drinking enough or gaining as much weight as he should. It may be used when babies need very frequent or extended nursing as well. Breast compression may also be used to help a baby get enough nourishment even though he falls a sleep too quickly during nursing sessions. In some cases, the technique may even prove helpful when a nursing mother is dealing with such issues as sore nipples and blocked milk ducts.
In most cases, nursing mothers do not find it necessary to try breast compression. Usually, babies drink their fill from one side and then move on, if they wish, to nurse from the other breast. Usually, a nursing mother knows when her baby is done drinking because the sucking motion he uses changes. Rather than sucking in earnest, a baby may begin to follow a pattern of opening his mouth, pausing, closing his mouth, and sucking. This is an indication that he is no longer drinking.
Sometimes breastfeeding problems develop. For example, some babies latch on poorly, which may cause them to get too little milk to facilitate adequate weight gain. Other babies latch on poorly but are still able to gain well because their mothers produce such a large supply of milk; unfortunately, this may still result in problems for the mother. For example, she may develop sore nipples or find herself having to nurse her baby constantly, despite the fact that he’s not drinking the entire time. Additionally, some babies fall asleep so fast that they don’t get enough to satisfy them with one nursing session and end up needing more frequent feedings.
When a nursing mother uses breast compression, she can ensure that her baby gets not only more milk, but also more of the higher-fat milk that is both healthy and satisfying. This may help to solve some of the problems created by poor latching and reduce the number of daily feedings required. As such, problems like sore nipples may be diminished. This technique may also help to prevent or treat blocked ducts, as a woman’s breasts may be drained more efficiently. Likewise, this technique can help to continue a feeding for a baby who has become too tired to suck but may still have room for more.
