Refrigerator Storage of Expressed Human Milk in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Received 26 March 2009; received in revised form 11 June 2009; accepted 9 July 2009. published online 27 September 2009.
Objective
To provide recommendations for refrigerator storage of human milk, the overall integrity (bacterial growth, cell counts, and component concentrations) of milk was examined during 96 hours of storage at 4°C.
Study design
Fresh milk samples (n = 36) were divided and stored at 4°C for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. At each time, pH, white cell count, and osmolality were measured and additional samples were stored at −80°C until analyzed for bacteria and concentrations of lactoferrin, secretory (s)IgA, fat, fatty acids, and protein.
Results
There were no significant changes for osmolality, total and Gram-negative bacterial colony counts or concentrations of sIgA, lactoferrin, and fat. Gram-positive colony counts (2.9 to 1.6 × 105 colony-forming units per mL), pH (7.21 to 6.68), white blood cell counts (2.31 to 1.85 × 106 cells per mL), and total protein (17.5 to 16.7 g/L) declined, and free fatty acid concentrations increased (0.35 to 1.28 g/L) as storage duration increased, P < .001.
Conclusions
Changes were minimal and the overall integrity of milk during refrigerator storage was preserved. Fresh mother's milk may be stored at refrigerator temperature for as long as 96 hours.
aDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schneider Children's Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
bDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schneider Children's Hospital at North Shore, Manhasset, NY
cFeinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Systems, Manhasset, NY
dDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
eDepartment of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Reprint requests: Dr Richard J. Schanler, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030.
ABSTRACT