According to Mark Cregan (I saw him at a wonderful conference) live
cells do become inactivated during the freezing process. He spoke about
the importance of preserving live cells - that they survive about 7 days
in fresh breastmilk. The challenge is keeping the milk alive without
too high bacterial growth. Breast milk is full of bacteria (hey,
pro-biotics!). And they grow in breast milk. So the challenge is to
preserve the active cells, hold onto the breast milk until able to be
used while at the same time not promoting growth of bad bacteria. The
source of bad bacteria is from outside the mom - handling, tubing that
gets touched, etc. So - good hand-washing, careful cleaning of pump
equipment and keeping it away from sources of bad bacteria (dirt from
vegetables, bathroom bugs, etc.) is important. This is especially
important for fragile babies who need those stem cells and their only
source is pumped milk - no ability to get straight from the tap. For
moms who are nursing most of the time and giving occasional pumped milk
while at work, that's not as big an issue. We're speaking about babies
who CAN'T nurse at all and their only source is stored milk.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marge Yeager
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: frozen breastmilk, was LACTNET Digest - 8 Sep 2008 to 9 Sep
2008 - Special issue (#2008-927)
I have been wondering about the cellular components in frozen bm. It
would seem to me that the live cells in breastmilk would die during the
freeze/thaw process....
Marge Yeager, BS, LE
On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 7:50 AM, LACTNET automatic digest system <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:01:29 +0300
> From: Wendy Blumfield <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: LACTNET Digest - 7 Sep 2008 to 8 Sep 2008 (#2008-926)
>
> I understand that frozen breast milk, whatever the duration frozen, is
> preferable to formula, but there have been studies (I have written
> about this previously) showing that antioxydents are reduced when milk
is frozen.
> So when I counsel women returning to work I encourage them to pump
> sufficient to keep themselves a couple of days ahead of their
> work-time so that milk can be refrigerated rather than frozen.
> Obviously if they have a surplus or there are special circumstances
> when they are travelling or needing medical treatment that interrupts
> regular breastfeeding, I would suggest keeping a reserve in the
freezer.
> But I am surprised that all the official guidelines do not recognise
> the antioxydent issue.
> Wendy Blumfield
> NCT ANT Tutor/BFC
> Israel Childbirth Education Centre
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