Study Finds Stored Breastmilk Retains its Benefits Longer than Thought

Jan 06, 2010

A newly released study conducted at the Schneider Children's Hospital of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System reveals that unfrozen refrigerated breastmilk can be safely stored and retain its benefits over a four day period, longer than researchers previously thought. The small study looked at the breastmilk of 36 mothers who had premature babies being treated at the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Schneider. Safe and effective breastmilk storage has been a long standing concern of NICUs across the country who must often store breastmilk for premature infants.¹

Researchers noted that although this research was intended for NICUs, it also has positive implications for working moms who often pump and store breastmilk for their children to be used while they are away. The benefits of this research also extend to any family using pumped breastmilk as a means of infant or child feeding.

Read the full article at Physorg.com.

References:

1. Ricks, Delthia. "Study finds breast milk has longer shelf life than previously thought" Physorg.com. January 2, 2010, Accessed January 5, 2010