The most important rule about handling human milk is that the equipment used to collect it in, and the hands that touch the containers etc are very clean.  Some research, as I've cited here before, has shown that THAT is the key factor in bacterial contamination, not the milk itself.  That being said, milk banks routinely freeze, defrost, combine, etc before pasteurizaton and refreezing.  Milk that has thawed to slushy but still with crystals can also be re-frozen.  I TRULY think that these extensive storage rules are meant to make milk unuseable so folks will buy formula. Anybody ever worked with non-pasteurized raw cow milk?  When frozen, the fat forms particles that don't fully break down and can be felt on the tongue when drinking it plain.  I don't know if human milk fat does the same.  It would be interesting to do one of those Gromada tests with flow-rates and bottles using fresh human milk versus frozen/de-frosted milk!  Ever had any complaints from moms who are working about babies needing "more" milk at daycare than when actually breastfeeding? 
Just thinking here this morning about all we really DON"T know scientifically about breast milk and breastfeeding! 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Young
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: handling human milk

I think I know the answer to one of these.  Is this a test?

> - place human milk at a
> certain place in the fridge or freezer for fear of temperature changes 
> (now, really, folks, how are the odds of rising the temperature of 
> cold milk in a container up to dangerous temperatures for bacteria 
> growth by opening the fridge door?)

It is smart to store food you want to stay cold further back in the refrigerator and never in the door.


> - do not ever shake human milk (I
> really would like to know what has been observed under controlled
> laboratory circumstances with shaken milk!)

Unless you want to make butter, LOL

> - never mix fresh milk with milk already stored (or not untill they have 
> the same temperature)

I always tell moms to chill milk before adding to frozen milk.  It then 
freezes in layers.

> - never heat human milk up to body temperature twice

 ?
> - don't use human milk after deep-freezing for 4 or 6 months
?


> - finish or throw away within an hour of the start of a feed

 I think this may be a hopital rule

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