A day of training at Penang Medical College - Marmet Technique

Can mothers totally empty the breast? The answer is nope. 20% of the breastmilk still remains in the breast.
80% of the breast milk can be removed using Marmet Technique or others. The reasons why the mothers need to remove milk from breasts includes :

1 - To increase milk production
2 - To avoid breast mastiits, abscess
3 - To donate milk
4 - Multiple birth like twin or more
5 - Relieve fullness of the breasts
6 - Storage purposes

Well, you can use a breast pump to remove the milk. However, it is also effective if you choose the hand expression.

Read more about Marmet technique as below.

http://naturalfamilytoday.com/parenting/breastfeeding/milk-expression-the-marmet-technique/

Breast massage helps your milk to flow faster. Heat improves blood flow and helps your milk let-down. Relax. Take deep breaths and think about your baby.

 

Hand Expression

• Place your thumb, index, and middle finger in a C shape about 1 to 1 1/2 inches away from the nipple. Start at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions.
• Press in toward the chest wall. Don’t move your fingers, just press back. This opens the ducts.
• Gently press your thumb and fingers together, rolling them forward. The rolling motion expresses the milk from the milk ducts.
• Repeat these motions (press back, press together, and roll) until the milk ducts are empty. Then move your fingers to another position around the nipple and repeat.
• Collect your milk in a clean, wide-mouthed container like a cup or small jar. The milk may spray out in several directions, so be prepared!
• If you lean forward slightly, gravity helps get the milk into the container.
• Switch back and forth between breasts when the milk slows down.
• Experiment with finding the best way to position your fingers until you find the right spots.
• Hand expression will take about the same amount of time as your baby does to nurse. At first, it may take 45 minutes. As you get more practice, expect to spend 20 minutes hand expressing.

Written by Geraldine Davis, RN, IBCLC.

Pediatric Advisor 2012.2 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2012-02-01
Last reviewed: 2010-12-01