X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Study Says Pumped Breast Milk Has Higher Levels of Harmful Bacteria Than Nursing

4 min read

For new mums who have to get back to work, the ability to pump breast milk and store this 'liquid gold' for their babies is a godsend. Yet, as mums, we can't help but wonder about breastfeeding vs pumping pros and cons. Are there any differences between pumped breast milk and the milk obtained from direct latching?

Here's a study that says pumped breast milk has higher levels of potentially harmful bacteria than milk from mums who breastfeed directly.

Breastfeeding vs pumping pros and cons: Study shows difference in bacteria levels

The study, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, looked at 393 mother-and-infant pairs enrolled in the long-term Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development birth cohort study, known as the CHILD study.

Here are some very interesting findings:

  • Breast milk DOES contain some bacteria, and is not sterile. 
  • According to the study, pumped breast milk had lower levels of good bacteria, and higher levels of (potentially) harmful bacteria when compared to milk from direct latching mums.
  • The authors of the study stress that the findings do not imply that pumped milk is bad. It means that more research is needed to find out the reasons for this difference in bacteria levels.

Co-author of the study, Dr. Meghan Azad, told the INSIDER that pumped milk was found to have lower levels of bifidobacteria, which is considered to be a good and helpful bacteria, and is commonly found in the infant gut.

breastfeeding vs pumping pros and cons

Regarding the greater levels of harmful pathogens, she clarified, "These are microbes that in certain contexts could possibly lead to infection, but this depends on other factors like what other bacteria are present, and whether the individual is immunocompromised."

She stressed that it did not mean that your baby would surely fall sick after drinking pumped breast milk.

"The study does not show that pumped milk is bad. It's not that straightforward. But it is an interesting finding that deserves further investigation", Azad told INSIDER.

"Breast milk is beneficial for many reasons, and for some moms, pumping might be the only way they can provide breast milk to their babies for a variety of reasons. So we certainly don't want to discourage pumping, but rather raise the question of what does this mean and what further research needs to be done.", she adds.

Why is there a difference in bacteria levels?

As to why exactly there is a difference in bacteria levels between direct latching and pumped milk, Azad feels that more research is needed to ascertain the exact causes.

breastfeeding vs pumping pros and cons

"This might involve new recommendations about bottle feeding, cleaning breast pumps, or storing pumped milk...", she says.

According to these researchers, one reason for the change might be because pumping milk changed the milk's composition. After pumping, perhaps certain bioactive elements in the milk might have degraded, or it might be the pump itself which had introduced new elements.

As Azad says, "These are all things that we'll learn by doing the research."

Meanwhile, here are some basic do's and don'ts when it comes to pumping and storing milk:

  • Before expressing or handling breast milk, wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Breast pump parts, bottles and the area where you will be pumping must be clean.
  • Store the expressed milk in a clean, capped glass or hard plastic, BPA-free container. You can also use special plastic bags designed for milk collection and storage.

breastfeeding vs pumping pros and cons

  • Don't store breast milk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags designed for general household use.
  • Using waterproof labels and ink, label each container with the date you expressed the breast milk.
  • Place the containers in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where the temperature is the coolest. If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, store the milk temporarily in an insulated cooler.
  • Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. It can be stored in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day. It can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to five days in clean conditions. 

Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months. Research suggests though, that the longer you store breast milk, even if it is in the refrigerator or in the freezer, the greater is the loss of vitamin C in the milk. 

Also READ: Cleaning your breast pump 101: New, revised guidelines

Partner Stories
UHT vs Fresh Milk for Toddler: 5 Things You Should Know About Milk for Your Child
UHT vs Fresh Milk for Toddler: 5 Things You Should Know About Milk for Your Child
3 Ultimate Ways to Build your Child’s Natural Defences
3 Ultimate Ways to Build your Child’s Natural Defences
MFGM: Role In Strengthening Your Child Immune System. Here’s How!
MFGM: Role In Strengthening Your Child Immune System. Here’s How!
MFGM and Milk : The Link between Nutrition and Brain Development
MFGM and Milk : The Link between Nutrition and Brain Development

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jaya

  • Home
  • /
  • Pumping Milk & Storage
  • /
  • Study Says Pumped Breast Milk Has Higher Levels of Harmful Bacteria Than Nursing
Share:
  • Is Donor Breast Milk Safe? Health Warning After Influencer Brags About Donating Breast Milk

    Is Donor Breast Milk Safe? Health Warning After Influencer Brags About Donating Breast Milk

  • Breast milk may not be any better than formula - scientist claims

    Breast milk may not be any better than formula - scientist claims

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Is Donor Breast Milk Safe? Health Warning After Influencer Brags About Donating Breast Milk

    Is Donor Breast Milk Safe? Health Warning After Influencer Brags About Donating Breast Milk

  • Breast milk may not be any better than formula - scientist claims

    Breast milk may not be any better than formula - scientist claims

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.