Mother's Milk Warning

by Diane Lofshult

Breastfeeding a baby can be a wonderful experience. In addition to providing an infant with the essential nutrients in breast milk, nursing is a great way to create a strong emotional bond between mother and child. However, mothers who pump their milk and store it in chilled bottles in the refrigerator may be leaving their kids out in the cold, according to a recent study published in The Archives of Childhood Disease (2004; 89 [6], F518–20).

Comparing the antioxidant activity of frozen and refrigerated breast milk with that of fresh samples, the researchers found significantly less activity in the milk exposed to refrigeration and freezing. They concluded that storing breast milk at low temperatures for more than 2 days can reduce the strength of its antioxidants.