Hi Sarah,
 
I found this in The Breastfeeding Answer Book in the chapter on premies  
regarding culturing milk:
 
   "Some hospitals occasionally culture expressed milk to check  on bacteria 
levels to be sure 
     the milk is being collected in a safe and clean  manner. Some bacteria 
in the milk is normal.
     Milk is usually judged acceptable if it does not  contain certain 
disease-causing organisms
     and contains low levels of other types of bacteria  (Meier and Anderson 
1987.) Currently, there
     are no accepted, research-based standards for safe  milk, so the results 
of this testing are
     often inconclusive."
 
I recall that the NICU cultured my milk way back in '87 when I gave birth  to 
a 26-weeker. I don't know if they still culture milk in that particular NICU  
or not.
 
May you and your little one be safe.
 
Warmly,
Carol Kelley   LLLL
Taylors SC
 
References:
Mohrbacher, N and Stock, J. The Breastfeeding Answer Book, third  revised 
edition. La Leche League International. Schaumburg. 2003 p293
 
Meier, P. and Anderson G. Responses of preterm infants to bottle and breast  
feeding. AM J Maternal-Child Nurs. 1987; 12:97-105
 
 



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