CLC Hand Expression Competency questions
and answers with solutions
When should be the first time you express milk? Why? - Answer 1 hour following birth; gives
you the highest milk volume
What is a difference between hand expressed and pumped milk? - Answer Hand expression
gives more calories and fat than pumped milk.
Why is early hand expression beneficial? - Answer It increases in energy and fat
Why is hand expression the best way to extract milk? - Answer It is the cleanest
How to hand express is... - Answer 1. Wash hands and gather supplies
2. Knead/rub the nipple to stimulate and get horomones flowing.
3. Create 'C' shape with outside hand
4. Squeeze areola on top and bottom
5. Pull back toward chest wall and compress your thumb and finger together gently and
rhythmically, mimicking suckling or rolling on the breast.
6. Position container on table if standing and in lap if sitting, aiming spray into container.
7. Repeat in spot until milk slows and then move to another spot. Repeat.
8. Switch breasts and repeat.
*Include wait time to allow milk to flow.
Is milk a raw food? - Answer Yes, it should be handled with care.
, Should breastmilk be heated? Why? - Answer No, if you heat breast milk it should be minimally
to preserve immune properties and nutrients.
How to prepare formula... - Answer 1. Use clean and disinfected bottles/nipples
2. Use filtered/clean water
3. Heat water to "not quite boiling" (158 degrees) to kill bacteria
4. Mix powder with heated water
5. Cool to room temp before feeding into baby
6. If not using right away, refrigerate immediately until feeding.
*measure water and formula outside of bottle, bottles aren't always accurate or measurable
What kind of container should be used when expressing breastmilk? - Answer Larger container
should be used for the first few expressions.
Can you express milk from both breasts at once? - Answer Yes! Use both containers.
When expressing breast milk should mom be sliding the fingers along skin? - Answer No, just
suckling pattern and rolling.
What can you do to help with engorgement? - Answer Expressing breast milk can help. Putting
breasts into warm water will also help release some of the milk before putting baby on.
Pumping is not recommended due to too much stimulation causing the possibility of blood in
the milk.
How can we help a mother rheumatoid arthritis to hand express? - Answer This can be very
difficult. Medication might be needed to help with pain. Refer to PT or OT to help with motor
skills. Neurological deficits might be present as well.
and answers with solutions
When should be the first time you express milk? Why? - Answer 1 hour following birth; gives
you the highest milk volume
What is a difference between hand expressed and pumped milk? - Answer Hand expression
gives more calories and fat than pumped milk.
Why is early hand expression beneficial? - Answer It increases in energy and fat
Why is hand expression the best way to extract milk? - Answer It is the cleanest
How to hand express is... - Answer 1. Wash hands and gather supplies
2. Knead/rub the nipple to stimulate and get horomones flowing.
3. Create 'C' shape with outside hand
4. Squeeze areola on top and bottom
5. Pull back toward chest wall and compress your thumb and finger together gently and
rhythmically, mimicking suckling or rolling on the breast.
6. Position container on table if standing and in lap if sitting, aiming spray into container.
7. Repeat in spot until milk slows and then move to another spot. Repeat.
8. Switch breasts and repeat.
*Include wait time to allow milk to flow.
Is milk a raw food? - Answer Yes, it should be handled with care.
, Should breastmilk be heated? Why? - Answer No, if you heat breast milk it should be minimally
to preserve immune properties and nutrients.
How to prepare formula... - Answer 1. Use clean and disinfected bottles/nipples
2. Use filtered/clean water
3. Heat water to "not quite boiling" (158 degrees) to kill bacteria
4. Mix powder with heated water
5. Cool to room temp before feeding into baby
6. If not using right away, refrigerate immediately until feeding.
*measure water and formula outside of bottle, bottles aren't always accurate or measurable
What kind of container should be used when expressing breastmilk? - Answer Larger container
should be used for the first few expressions.
Can you express milk from both breasts at once? - Answer Yes! Use both containers.
When expressing breast milk should mom be sliding the fingers along skin? - Answer No, just
suckling pattern and rolling.
What can you do to help with engorgement? - Answer Expressing breast milk can help. Putting
breasts into warm water will also help release some of the milk before putting baby on.
Pumping is not recommended due to too much stimulation causing the possibility of blood in
the milk.
How can we help a mother rheumatoid arthritis to hand express? - Answer This can be very
difficult. Medication might be needed to help with pain. Refer to PT or OT to help with motor
skills. Neurological deficits might be present as well.
