DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

I don't remember if I sent this story to Lactnet but it is pertinent to
Jan's post about what we really know about storing, thawing, and using
human milk.

I have "heard" that frozen human milk loses its bacteriostatic properties
in freezing and should be consumed within a couple of hours after being
thawed quickly in warm water.  I, too, have wondered what that
recommendation is based on.

I had a client who went for an evening walk after her baby settled for what
she thought would be a couple of hours.  Upon return she asked Papa how
baby did. He replied that baby woke fussy so he gave him a bottle of milk
and that did the trick. Baby went right to sleep and was still asleep.

Mom anxiously asked (or screamed), "What milk?!. Papa said that it was the
bottle in the fridge.

That bottle had been frozen and was thawed over 2 weeks before and she had
failed to throw it out.  She called me at 10:30 in a worried state wanting
to know what would happen and what should she do. I said that if it was,
indeed, spoiled, baby would probably throw up, then want to feed again. He
might throw that feed up too, then he would probably be ok. Not to worry.

Well, the little one slept fine for 5 hours and awoke hungry and had no ill
effects of the feeding.

We do need to research this. It shouldn't be hard to do--just test the
bacterial count at intervals after thawing the milk in different manners.
My guess is that it would still be as "live" as it was before freezing.

Jan can tell us how "simple" it is to do such tests.

Clients have been told that their frozen milk must not be given to baby
after 3 months in a freezer or 6 months in a deep freeze. Why?  What if
some of the nutritional quality *is* moderately compromised (such as the
green peas that one finds in the bottom of the deep freeze) baby will be
getting optimal nutrition from the milk at other feedings from the breast.
And it would still be far superior to any alternatives.

I had a client this week whose day care center said that they were not
allowed to give breastmilk that had been frozen for more than 2 weeks!! She
was able to sign a form absolving the center of responsibility. I also sent
the Ameda sheet with its recommendations.  Even if they are loosely based
it is better than the 2 weeks requirement.

There is too much good human milk being thrown away and too many babies
being given hazardous substitutes.

I am not talking about 2# premies in the hospital setting where bacteria
are rampant and all precautions must be taken. Most of the questions
pertain to term babies at home with ordinary family germs and
refrigerator/freezers or deep freezers. But even the premies would benefit
from sound research instead of presumptions.

So who has that lab and some time?

Until the research is done are we passing on protocol without a base of
evidence?--Except for Jan and Pat B's evidence and Rachel Brusseau's, both
of which attest to raw human milk's integrity.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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