What is a breast milk test called? Breast milk analysis: when is it necessary? What do breast milk tests mean?

Sterile milk is an ideal food for a newborn. But even such food sometimes contains harmful bacteria and infections. Some bacteria are safe and will not harm the baby or mother, especially if the nursing woman has a strong immune system. Antibodies block harmful substances and stop reproduction.

However, after childbirth, a woman loses many useful vitamins and elements, the immune system weakens, and the body cannot cope with the load. In this case, bacteria quickly multiply and spread, causing infections and leading to complications.

To find out about the presence of bacteria, a nursing mother can have her breast milk tested. This will protect the woman and baby and prevent illness. In addition, there are a number of cases when it is mandatory to take a breast milk test.

When is the analysis done?

  • Purulent mastitis in a nursing woman;
  • Recurrent mastitis in the mother during lactation;
  • Inflammation and pain in the chest, purulent discharge from the nipples;
  • Disruption of digestion and nutrition in infants for no apparent reason;
  • Negative and unstable stool in an infant during the first two months of life. If there are admixtures of blood and mucus, and the stool itself is dark green in color. Read what a baby's stool should be like;
  • Constant colic in infants, constipation or diarrhea. At the same time, the baby does not gain or even loses weight. You can find out about the weight norms for a newborn up to one year in;
  • The baby developed pustules and blisters on his body.


How to collect milk for analysis

To get reliable results, you need to perform a number of steps. First of all, you need to prepare the dishes. To collect milk, take two jars or test tubes, which must be disinfected! To do this, rinse the container with soda, rinse in running water and boil for 30-40 minutes. In addition, you can take special sterile tubes directly to the laboratory where breast milk is analyzed.

Wash your hands and breasts thoroughly before pumping. Wash your chest with liquid neutral soap and dry with a napkin. Towels and regular soap irritate the nipples, which leads to cracks and abrasions! Wipe the nipples and areola with a 70% alcohol solution. The section “” will tell you how to express milk correctly. Skip the first 10 ml and only then express it into a container.

It is important to express milk from each breast into a separate jar! Label the jars. where the milk is from the right breast, and where from the left. For analysis, it is enough to collect 5-10 ml of milk from each breast. The milk must be delivered to the laboratory within three hours! You need to wait about a week for the result.

results

Often, a mother’s fears are unfounded, and digestive disorders are associated with other problems. For example, due to poor nutrition, a nursing woman or a baby may be allergic to the product. And colic in a newborn is a temporary phenomenon that is typical for 80-90% of babies. They do not mean at all that harmful microorganisms have settled in breast milk.

Sometimes breast milk is tested for sterility and shows the presence of bacteria. However, not all substances are harmful to mother and baby. Antibodies in breast milk block germs, protect the baby and build immunity in the baby.

The most common bacteria are staphylococci. They form on the skin, mucous membranes and in the intestines. They enter breast milk through cracks and wounds on the nipples. Antibodies also neutralize staphylococcus. However, with a weakened immune system, harmful bacteria can spread throughout the body.

Bad analysis: what to do

These diseases can be treated and do not even require interruption of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be interrupted only in case of purulent mastitis and long-term treatment with drugs that are incompatible with lactation.

Prevention of infections

The main cause of infections is cracks and abrasions on the nipples. To avoid the appearance of wounds, it is necessary to carefully monitor the hygiene and condition of the breast. For prevention, use the following methods:

  • Wash your nipples with neutral liquid soap and dry with a paper towel or napkin;
  • Choose the right bra when breastfeeding. Bones and fabric should not rub the delicate skin of the nipples;
  • Lubricate nipples with vegetable or olive oil;
  • Solutions of vitamins A and E are well suited for the prevention of wounds and cracks. They protect and restore the skin, improve skin elasticity. Purelan ointment is also suitable as a preventive measure;
  • If cracks have already appeared, use special ointments to treat nipples while breastfeeding. Videstim and Bepanten are effective and safe. If you use furatsilin solution, be sure to wash off the mixture before feeding!;
  • Massage your breasts using circular movements clockwise for 2-4 minutes a day;
  • Take a warm shower morning and evening. By the way, massage can be done while showering;
  • Compresses made from cabbage leaves relieve chest pain. To enhance and facilitate lactation, make a warm compress before feeding, and a cool compress after;
  • Make sure that the baby grasps both the nipple and the areola!;
  • Monitor your breasts carefully. If lumps appear, milk stagnation or pus discharge from the nipples, consult a doctor! Even ordinary stagnation of milk (lactostasis) and microcracks that are not visible to the eye, in the absence of proper treatment, lead to complications and serious illnesses;
  • In case of lactostasis, mastitis and other breast problems, it is necessary to undergo a breast milk test.

Proper nutrition of a nursing mother plays an important role in the health of the baby. .Dishes containing vitamins and healthy elements will help a woman recover faster after childbirth and strengthen her immune system, which is important when fighting harmful microbes.

It is genetically determined that breast milk contains everything necessary for a child to develop correctly and harmoniously. Moreover, the quantitative ratio of the elements of this nutrient fluid differs for each woman depending on the individual needs of the baby, his age and the duration of each feeding. If the baby is not gaining weight well, behaves restlessly or requires frequent breastfeeding, the mother doubts whether her milk has sufficient fat content. Let's try to determine where the problem most often lies.

For a child, the milk that he receives from his mother - both water and food, are delivered to the baby with it:

  • immunoglobulins - available only in breast milk (not in formulas), participate in the process of developing immunity;
  • bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to populate the intestines with the “correct” microflora, in order to avoid the development of pathogenic ones;
  • enzymes and hormones that trigger the process of breakdown and absorption of food;
  • vitamins, micro-, macroelements necessary for the continued formation and development of all organs and systems;
  • the so-called BZHU - proteins, fats, carbohydrates - “bricks”, building material for all tissues, as well as providing energy to move, think, live.
  • The fat content of breast milk is a dynamic (changeable) value. It may vary depending on how much time has passed since the start of breastfeeding (what stage of lactation). The percentage of fat in milk will also vary as the baby sucks it from the breast during one feeding. Based on this, mother's milk is divided into types.

    Types of mother's milk at different stages of breastfeeding - table

  • is released from the chest drop by drop, and not like later varieties - in streams;
  • can begin to be produced in a woman already during the last trimester of pregnancy;
  • after delivery, the child receives it for another 3 days;
  • a newborn sucks only 5–10 ml per day - this amount is enough for the baby at this stage of development;
  • the substance is yellowish in color, thick and sticky, very high in calories, so that even in those small quantities in which it reaches the child, it provides him with energy;
  • low-fat, does not overly burden the infant’s still immature digestive system;
  • there is little water, it does not put unnecessary strain on the kidneys;
  • fully meets the needs of the newborn, promoting his adaptation to the new living environment and the formation of healthy intestinal microflora.
  • is distinguished by the most stable composition (stability in relation to breast milk is a relative concept, since the quantitative composition of its components, although slowly, gradually, continues to change throughout lactation);
  • produced by the mammary glands two or three weeks after delivery;
  • The protein content steadily decreases, and the amount of fat and carbohydrates also steadily increases;
  • from the age of three months, an increased fat content with a relatively slight increase in the volume of milk consumed can fully compensate for the baby’s increasing needs for calories (energy);
  • the amount of antibodies and immunoglobulins tends to gradually decrease until the child reaches six months, and then gradually increases.
  • The content of certain organic substances in breast milk may change in different life situations, for example, if:

  • a woman who is breastfeeding (or her baby) is sick, breast milk contains an increased amount of antibodies;
  • the baby was born premature, the mother who is nursing him can produce colostrum within 1–2 weeks;
  • the mother is feeding twins, and at the same time gives each baby a strictly defined breast, the composition of the milk will be different in each mammary gland (adapted to the needs of each baby);
  • the child is actively growing (a period often called a “growth spurt”), the milk in the mother’s mammary glands becomes fatter and more nutritious;
  • the mother puts the baby to the breast often, the milk will receive the highest fat content - 30 minutes after the previous feeding, the highest concentration of fats is observed in it, but the change in the feeding regimen does not affect the content of proteins and carbohydrates;
  • feeding occurs at night, the baby receives fattier milk;
  • It’s hot outside or indoors, there is more water in milk.
  • The composition and properties of breast milk have not been fully studied to this day. It is known that it contains about 500 components, each of which plays its own role, clearly provided for by nature, in the maintenance and development of new life. Fats are no exception. There are exactly as many of them in mother’s milk as the baby of this particular mother needs at a certain stage of life.

    How many biologically active substances depending on the stage of lactation - table

    The qualitative composition of mother's milk remains unchanged throughout the entire period of lactation; the quantitative indicators of the content of useful substances change depending on the needs of the baby. Moreover, these changes occur smoothly, and not abruptly.

    Anterior and posterior - classification within one feeding

    Breast milk is a truly unique product. It can change in composition during one feeding. First, the baby sucks from the breast the so-called foremilk, which contains more water and less nutrients, then, towards the end of feeding, he gets the thicker, fattier and more nutritious hindmilk.

    Foremilk is produced in the time between feedings. The posterior one matures directly during feeding - its fat content increases due to the fact that fat molecules accumulated on the walls of the milk ducts are washed out with milk and gradually move to the nipple (this is why milk is fatter towards the end of feeding).

    Foremilk, white or bluish in color, tastes sweet due to its high sugar content, replenishes the baby's body's fluid supply. The back, yellowish, contains everything necessary for the growth and development of the baby, gives a feeling of fullness, and takes longer to digest.

    The baby's body needs both types of milk equally. This is why it is so important that the baby receives both front and back during feeding. To do this, it is recommended to put the baby on only one breast at one feeding.

    Chemical composition of breast milk - table

    How to understand whether fat content is normal and whether it is worth increasing it

    During lactation, a woman produces milk exclusively with the participation of blood and lymph. The products consumed by a nursing mother do not affect its composition in any way - they replenish the reserves of nutrients in the mother’s body and can stimulate the production of more milk. But the correct placement of the baby to the breast and compliance with the rules of breastfeeding are directly related to the child’s feeling of fullness and age-related indicators of his development.

    Most often, it is enough to properly establish lactation to get rid of the baby’s problems with digestion and weight gain. As for the fat content of breast milk, in most cases it corresponds to the norm, and it should not be specially increased in order to avoid the development of dysbiosis in the baby and disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. There are also always exactly as many other substances in milk as the child needs in accordance with his age and anthropometric data.

    Mother's milk consists, first of all, of water - 90% fore milk, 87% hind milk - therefore it is believed that it is not necessary to supplement a baby who receives it in sufficient volume (when feeding on demand). Carbohydrates in it are represented by milk sugar and lactose, in the amount of 7% of the total volume, and it contains 4% fat. And there are only 1% of vitamins and minerals, but they are absorbed from breast milk into the baby’s gastrointestinal tract much more actively than from any other products.

    In breast milk, the ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates is ideal for absorption by the child’s body - 1: 3: 6. For comparison, in cow milk this ratio is 1:1:1. Fats in human milk are mainly represented by triglycerides, sterols, and phospholipids.

    It has been experimentally proven that changing the diet of a nursing mother can only affect the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, water-soluble vitamins and some minerals (selenium, iodine) in breast milk. The viscosity and fluidity of milk can vary depending on the amount of lecithin consumed by a woman.

    This means that the problem of a hungry child is often not that his mother is eating incorrectly, but that she is not breastfeeding the baby correctly. This is a situation in which it is more likely to adjust the feeding regimen, monitor the correct attachment of the baby to the breast, make sure that he sucks both fore and hind milk, and not increase its fat content.

    If you still doubt the nutritional value of your breast milk, you can find out its fat content: check it yourself at home or submit it for laboratory testing.

    How a woman can check her fat content at home or by taking a test in a clinic

    Hind milk is the main source of fat for the baby. This means that the percentage of their content in it should be determined. To determine the fat content of your milk, a nursing mother needs:

  • Express the foremilk into a separate bowl (it will not be useful for analysis).
  • Express about 10 ml of hind milk into a test tube (or fill the test tube 10 cm from the bottom).
  • Leave the test tube to stand for several hours (5-6 hours is enough) so that the fat contained in the milk rises to its surface (since fat is lighter than water).
  • Measure the thickness of the cream layer formed on the surface.
  • Calculate the percentage of fat content, taking each millimeter of cream layer in a test tube as 1% fat content.
  • If the thickness of the cream layer in the test tube is approximately 4 mm, the fat content of the milk corresponds to the standard. Remember that there may well be deviations from this value due to the individual characteristics of the body and the developmental characteristics of the baby.

    To determine the fat content of milk, the fore milk is first expressed into a separate container, and the percentage of fat is determined by its content in the hind milk

    Due to the inaccuracy of the results, such a home test cannot be recognized by official medicine. If there are suspicions of deviations from the norm in the content of active substances in milk, the nursing mother is prescribed a laboratory analysis that accurately determines its quantitative and qualitative composition (chemical tests). But such an analysis is done only if there are serious dysfunctions of the endocrine system or other pathologies in the mother, mainly in private laboratories, and the cost of performing it is far from small.

    Often problems with the quantity and quality of breast milk during lactation arise:

  • against the background of the development of a bacterial infection in the milk ducts (then a bacterial culture is done for the microflora);
  • during any inflammatory processes;
  • as a consequence of lactostasis, nervous and physical exhaustion.
  • These conditions require immediate access to qualified medical care. In other cases, in order for the baby to receive milk of sufficient fat content and rich in all the necessary nutrients, it is enough to simply follow the rules of breastfeeding and the nursing mother to eat properly.

    The higher the fat content of the milk, the more effort it will require to digest it, the harder it will be for the baby to suck and for the mother to express. Therefore, there is no need to consciously increase the fat content of milk by consuming large quantities of fats (sour cream, pork, butter creams, etc.). Vegetable fats (sunflower, olive and corn oil) are preferable to animal fats.

    E. O. Komarovsky

    Is it possible to increase the nutritional value of milk and solve the problem of child underweight?

    A child and a nursing mother are connected by a common microflora. If an infection develops in the mother’s body and she feels unwell, then similar reactions will be observed in the baby’s body. Therefore, the first rule of breastfeeding is this: at the slightest suspicion of developing any disease, a nursing mother should immediately consult a doctor to get medical help and eliminate any cause that could negatively affect the production and quality of the baby’s main food - breast milk.

    Nature has made sure that the child receives everything he needs from his mother. Mom must eat right so as not to let the reserves of nutrients in her body dry up. But as doctors say, she needs to eat for two, not for two. What does it mean? In short, cereals and fruits should make up 50% of her diet, fats - 30%, proteins - 20%, and she needs to drink a lot of water - at least 2 liters per day.

    The formula for a healthy diet for a nursing mother is simple to the point of banality. But it guarantees the provision of all necessary benefits to both the woman and her baby.

    As mentioned above, fat content directly depends on the intervals between feedings - the shorter they are, the more fatty food the child receives. Feed your baby more often, while trying to eat small portions at short intervals (from 5–6 to 8 times a day - the mother eats the same number of times as she puts the baby to her breast). This is the only way your body and the baby’s body will receive nutrients in doses, without unnecessarily loading the organs of the digestive system. And all the active components will be absorbed by both to the fullest extent.

    Always make sure that your baby receives both foremilk and hindmilk at the same feeding. Attach your baby to the breast correctly so that he grasps the nipple completely. In most cases, it is these simple actions that help cope with the problem of a child’s lack of nutrients and poor weight gain.

    Only with severe exhaustion of the body, prolonged fasting, anorexia, or serious pathologies of the endocrine system in a woman can milk be “empty” - low-fat.

    Always make sure you are latching your baby to your breast correctly.

    If breast milk is produced in insufficient quantities, drink special teas that stimulate lactation. They do not directly increase fat content, but by increasing its production, they are quite capable of solving the problem of child underweight.

    There are many recommendations regarding products that increase the amount of milk (nuts, yeast, nettle decoction, beer, etc.), as well as medications that have a similar effect (nicotinic and glutamic acids, Apilak, Pirroxan). But you should under no circumstances overestimate their importance. Believe me, a healthy child and a mother who sleeps at night, who is not nervous and does not twitch over little things, contribute to the production of a sufficient amount of milk to a much greater extent than all food and medicines combined.

    E. O. Komarovskyhttp://www.komarovskiy.net/knigi/pitanie-kormyashhej-materi.html

    What products help improve the quality of lactation - photo gallery

    Milk and lactic acid products are rich in easily digestible fats and calcium. Among cereals, buckwheat is considered the record holder for vitamin composition. You can eat different types of meat, but it is better to stew, boil or bake it

    How to improve the quality of lactation - video

    And if the fat content is increased: how to determine and what to do

    Situations when a child, on the contrary, gains weight too quickly, are also not uncommon. Then the nursing mother, on the contrary, wonders how to reduce fat content. But again, first you need to conduct examinations with a pediatrician to exclude such causes of excessive weight gain in infants, such as:

  • genetic predisposition to obesity;
  • all kinds of metabolic disorders and diseases of the endocrine system in the baby;
  • low physical activity;
  • systematic overfeeding, etc.
  • If the reason for the discrepancy between the child’s weight and age lies precisely in the too high nutritional value of his diet, the doctor may recommend that the woman limit her intake of carbohydrates and fats, cancel night feedings or increase the intervals between daytime feedings. After all, too much fat in the diet can cause the baby to develop dysbiosis, obesity, and dysfunction of the digestive and cardiovascular systems.

    Not a single doctor will advise a nursing mother to follow any diet (especially mono) and deprive herself of the necessary variety of nutrients entering the body with food.

    This is not about eliminating fatty foods, but about eating them in smaller quantities. It is generally unacceptable to completely eliminate fats, for example, when fighting for your figure, if only because many vitamins dissolve exclusively in fats.

    E. O. Komarovsakiyhttp://www.komarovskiy.net/knigi/pitanie-kormyashhej-materi.html

    Nature has made sure that the composition of breast milk fully meets the needs of the child. It is necessary to specifically increase or decrease its fat content only in cases of pathological changes in the body of either a nursing woman or her baby. In most cases, to normalize a baby’s digestion and bring its anthropometric indicators to meet age standards, it is enough to properly establish lactation, follow the rules of breastfeeding and adjust the diet of the nursing mother.

    Mother's milk is recognized as a unique product with an ideal balance of nutrients. Receiving it regularly to your child ensures strong immunity and reduces allergic reactions, which is not uncommon for artificial formulas. But even such a product can sometimes be harmful. Let's consider a study such as breast milk analysis, its types, and methods.

    What is a breast milk test called?

    Before donating breast milk for analysis, the mother must clearly determine the need for this procedure. There are several ways to carry out such diagnostics, depending on the goals. This biological product is often tested for:

    • sterility;
    • fat content;
    • presence of antibodies.

    Testing breast milk for sterility

    This technique is necessary to exclude the presence of harmful microorganisms. They can penetrate either from the outside or move from the source of inflammation in the woman’s body along with the blood flow. This analysis of breast milk identifies the specific type of microorganism and determines its concentration. Based on the results obtained, medications are prescribed. The interpretation of the microflora analysis of breast milk is carried out exclusively by a doctor. The presence is often recorded:

    • staphylococcus;
    • enterobacteria;
    • candida mushroom;
    • Klebsiella

    The study is mandatory in the presence of inflammatory and infectious processes in the gland. Accurate identification of the causative agent helps to quickly begin effective therapy and eliminate symptoms and manifestations of the disease. The nursing woman herself should be interested in its purpose. The difficulty of implementation is often due to the lack of necessary equipment and personnel.


    Analysis of breast milk for fat content

    This type of test determines the presence of fats. Such elements are difficult to digest. Because of this, babies often have digestive problems. Analysis of breast milk for composition also involves determining the degree of fat content. In this case, for testing it is necessary to collect only the biological material that is released approximately 2-4 minutes from the start of pumping. For collection, you must use clean, washed and sterilized containers.

    The resulting material is poured into a test tube. It has a notch, which is located 10 cm from the bottom. After waiting 6 hours, the result is assessed. After this time, a layer of cream forms on the surface. It is important not to shake the container during the test. When assessing the results after analyzing breast milk, it is considered that 1 mm of creamy layer corresponds to 1% fat content. According to statistics, it is This indicator is average, so you should not worry if it differs slightly downward. Problems may arise in the opposite case - due to a high percentage of fat.

    Analysis of breast milk for staphylococcus

    This method is often used to determine the causes of mastitis during lactation. It can develop as a result of stagnation or penetration of pathogenic microorganisms through cracks in the nipple. In order to have breast milk tested for staphylococcus, a woman collects it into a sterile container. The resulting sample is sent to the laboratory. The material is placed on a nutrient medium and cultivated. After time, the result is assessed by microscopy. In most cases, it identifies Prescription of antibacterial drugs leads to relief from mastitis.

    Antibody testing of breast milk

    It is carried out in the presence of Rh conflict - a disorder in which the Rh factor of the mother and child do not match. To exclude the possibility of antibodies passing from the mother’s body to the baby, doctors advise stopping breastfeeding or waiting until the baby is one month old. This fact can be excluded by conducting a test. The interpretation of breast milk analysis is carried out exclusively by a doctor. The result indicates the concentration of antibodies present, if any, or their absence.


    Where can I get my breast milk tested?

    When talking about where you can do a breast milk test, doctors first name large medical centers. Laboratories also operate at perinatal institutions. Laboratory diagnostics require special modern equipment and qualified personnel. Depending on the type of study, the speed at which results are obtained may vary. For example, when determining sterility, this may take about a week.

    How to collect breast milk for analysis?

    Talking about how to properly submit breast milk for analysis, doctors note that collection from each gland should be carried out in different containers. It is very important to carry out the preparation process, which consists of the following:

    • Carrying out thorough hand washing with soap;
    • gland hygiene;
    • treatment of the alveolar area with an alcohol solution.

    The last portion is used for evaluation. Its volume should not exceed 10 ml. During the pumping process, it is necessary to avoid touching the nipples with your hands. The sample is transported in a container no later than 2-3 hours from the moment of collection. Storing the collected material even in the refrigerator before transfer to the laboratory is unacceptable. This can skew the results when the fat percentage is determined.

    Taking into account all the above rules, the mother can first give the breast to the baby, so as not to express it herself, if feeding during this period is not prohibited. With the results obtained, you should contact a specialist in lactation processes. Evaluating existing data helps clarify problems and how to resolve them. Full compliance with the given recommendations and instructions leads to the normalization of the lactation process and eliminates digestive disorders in the baby.

    How to protect your baby from germs that have settled in breast milk?

    A huge advantage of breastfeeding is the absolute sterility of breast milk. But doctors have discovered that even such a wonderful product as mother’s milk can contain harmful bacteria.

    And if it never occurred to our parents to express milk into test tubes and take it to the laboratory, then among modern mothers breast milk analysis for sterility enjoys unprecedented popularity. Is it worth taking it, what “pests” can be found in milk and what to do if the tests are not perfect?

    COLLECTION OF BREAST MILK FOR ANALYSIS

    So, if doubts about the quality of milk have arisen and the thought of whether the child is not receiving a portion of vitamins and a certain dose of microbes haunts you, you should stock up on the necessary address and patience. Collection breast milk for analysis- It’s a delicate matter and requires extreme care.

    First, prepare the dishes: two sterile test tubes or jars (boil for 15 minutes). Then thoroughly wash your hands and areola area with soap and dry with a towel or, even better, a sterile napkin. The first portion of milk (5-10 ml) is expressed into the sink, the second - into jars (10 ml).

    Milk from the left and right breasts cannot be mixed; each sample requires its own jar. Then the milk is transported to its destination and they wait about a week for the results of bacteriological culture (it won’t work faster, since bacteria need time to grow on special media).

    Usually, in parallel with determining the quantity and quality of bacteria, their resistance to various drugs (antiseptics, bacteriophages, antibiotics) is also studied. This helps to find the most effective treatment method. No more than three hours should pass between expressing milk into a sterile container and delivering it to the laboratory, otherwise the result will be inaccurate. Often the mother’s alarm turns out to be false, but sometimes consultation with a pediatric gastroenterologist is required.

    ANALYSIS OF BREAST MILK FOR STAPHYLOCOCCUS

    What do laboratory technicians look for when examining milk under a microscope? Ubiquitous microbes, which can include almost harmless enterococci and epidermal staphylococci, as well as the formidable Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Candida fungi and Staphylococcus aureus.

    Usually these insidious enemies penetrate milk through microcracks in the delicate skin of the nipple. Such cracks do not cause pain, are unnoticeable, but are almost inevitable when the baby is frequently put to the breast. Microcracks themselves are not dangerous, but when the body’s defenses are weakened, bacteria attack precisely these vulnerable areas of the skin.

    “Bad” bacteria can cause a lot of trouble for both mother and child. For example, staphylococcus: a small, inconspicuous grain - and this is exactly what this “pest” looks like under a microscope - turns out to be a dangerous adversary. Its arsenal includes a microcapsule that helps microbes penetrate the body’s tissues, enzymes that destroy cell structure, and more than a dozen different toxins.

    The most harmful of staphylococci is Staphylococcus aureus.. Among the symptoms of infection staphylococcus. – diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pustules and boils on the skin, staphylococcal tonsillitis and pleurisy. From the surface of the skin, staphylococcus can enter the mammary gland, causing purulent mastitis, and from the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract - into the cavity of the ear and paranasal sinuses, provoking the development of otitis and sinusitis.

    There is also little pleasant in Klebsiella, E. coli and mushrooms. Their most harmless weapon is the ability to ferment sucrose, glucose and lactose with the formation of large amounts of gas. It is not surprising if a baby attacked by these bacteria suffers from tummy pain! But there is good news: the presence of harmful bacteria in mother’s milk is not a death sentence for breastfeeding.

    BREAST MILK ANALYSIS

    Usually, if there are no signs of mastitis, the gastroenterologist prescribes a course of treatment for the mother and advises giving the child bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to prevent dysbacteriosis. In the fight against microbes, most doctors prefer bacteriophages and herbal antiseptics. Antibiotics are used extremely rarely. But if this is still necessary, the doctor will select medications that do not affect lactation.

    Breastfeeding women are advised to do breast milk analysis“sterility”, but do not stop breastfeeding if microbes are detected in breast milk, but consult a doctor to prescribe treatment. In this case, you can continue to breastfeed the baby, and the benefits of mother's milk will exceed the harm from bad microbes, which will soon disappear as a result of the effects of medications.

    Immunoglobulins in mother's milk stimulate metabolic processes, protect the intestines from the proliferation of pathogenic microflora, and increase the body's resistance to infections. It will not be easy for microbes to cope with such an opponent as breast milk! Preventive measures won't hurt either.

    To begin with, take care of proper nutrition. The abundance of sweets creates an ideal environment for the proliferation of microbes. Sometimes a mother needs to exclude sweets, baked goods, and starchy foods from her diet, and the baby begins to feel better.

    In addition to mandatory hygiene procedures, it is useful to lubricate the areola area with an oil solution of vitamins A and E - this increases the elasticity of the skin and prevents the formation of cracks. And let the bacteria stay away!


    Contents:

    When can the presence of microbes in milk be a sign of illness?

    The presence of various microbes in breast milk should be considered a sign of illness only if the woman who took the test also has other signs of infection (mastitis): fever, severe breast pain, redness and inflammation of the breasts. In all other cases, the determination of microbes in milk should not be carried out, and if it was carried out and revealed the presence of microbes in breast milk, it should be considered a completely normal phenomenon.

    What should I do if I have staphylococci or other microbes in my breast milk? Is it necessary to stop breastfeeding?

    Under no circumstances should breastfeeding be interrupted if microbes are detected in breast milk! In the body of healthy women, the development of these microbes is restrained by the work of the immune system, which produces special factors that inhibit the development of microbes. These factors (for example, IgA antibodies) are also present in the milk itself. Consequently, children who drink mother's milk, along with the milk, also acquire protection against these microbes.

    It is also impossible to boil breast milk in order to destroy the microbes present in it. Mother's milk is a unique living product, which loses most of its beneficial properties when boiled.

    What treatment is necessary for the presence of staphylococcus or other microbes in breast milk?

    In the case of healthy women without any signs of mastitis, treatment if any amount of microbes is detected in breast milk is completely useless and even dangerous.

    There is also no need to treat children.

    If a child has any symptoms that are allegedly associated with his “infection through mother’s milk,” this theory should be completely rejected and the true causes of the disease should be found.