People who express- did you know shaking breastmilk is not recommended?!

[Samuel's mum]

I was just reading about storing breastmilk and came across this little snippet in an article called 'Don't Shake the Milk' by Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC:


Why not?

Because shaking expressed mothers' milk... denatures the shaped molecules of the protective proteins, leaving only the pieces - the amino acids - the parts. Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and other protective components work their protection magic when they are in their original shaped molecular structure. Some components remain intact, even during freezing, shaking or heating. They not only protect the gut from many kinds of infection, but also prevent inflammation of the gut lining. Even broken up, the separate amino acids are still really good stuff and are digested by the baby as nutrients.

Imagine a set of pop-beads assembled into a necklace or bracelet. When the beads are acting as a bracelet or necklace, they are doing their job as protective elements. When you break apart the beads, you have in your hand many individual chunks of amino acids which are then digested.

Cellular components are also susceptible to damage by physical stress. After all, they are living cells.

With mother's milk, you get at least two functions for the price of one. With manufactured formula, you only get the individual beads, never the necklace or bracelet. And never the living cells.

So, please handle human milk gently, respectfully and kindly. It's far more than perfect food for babies - it's a living tissue and protective shield too.


http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/shakenot.htm

So I'm guessing we stir the separated milk slowly and carefully with sterilised silver spoons?!!

And do you think people who don't express should be jogging? (I'm being silly now.)

[Carter'sMama]

That's a good article!!!  LOL about the jogging 

Actually at work (a vet hospital) most of our drugs and chemicals that we use cannot be shaken so I just got in the habit of "gently swirling" everything.  DH used to make fun of me when he would see me swirling the breast milk rather than shaking it!!  I think that most things out of the body are not supposed to be shaken for the same reason (denature proteins) such as insulin, blood etc.

I am glad that you posted that article!

[daisymelan]

Thanks for the article Emma.  Really interesting.

And that's why I don't jog.   

[rooby-rooby-roo]

And that's why I don't jog.   

Bwaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JacobMarksMummy]

LOL jodie 

Very interesting stuff, thanks emma 

[Cory'stiredmommy]

You people are tooooooo funny. I just bought a jogging stroller today. I think I shoudl return it becasue my boobs can't go running;-)