Is this true?

Good2BdaMommy · March 2009

SIL says that shaking BM diminishes its nutritional value. Is this true? If I don't shake the refrigerated BM, I don't get the thick fatty stuff that sticks tot he sides. And that's the best part, right?

marrymemylove · March 2009

Shaking it to mix it from the fridge is just fine. Don't worry.

Now if you were mixing it with a stickmixer or blender that could be different... since you can change the molecular structure like that (think churing cream into butter).?

kel716 · March 2009

I've heard shaking it is not good for it either... I just warm it up a smidge before I dump it into my bottle. It pulls the fatty stuff off the sides just fine.

Stacyc625 · March 2009

lol @ blender. Boobymilkshake.

a little shake isn't going to hurt the nutrients in the BM. really no need to worry.

springtime81 · March 2009

I've gotta disagree with everyone else here...shaking breastmilk is a bad thing, it can break up the proteins so they're not as nutritious. The better method is to swirl the milk around the bottle in order to mix it, this is a much gentler method and still gets the fat off the sides.

Edited to add: here's a link I found off kellymom.

MrsL.inMarch · March 2009

springtime81:
I've gotta disagree with everyone else here...shaking breastmilk is a bad thing, it can break up the proteins so they're not as nutritious. The better method is to swirl the milk around the bottle in order to mix it, this is a much gentler method and still gets the fat off the sides.
Edited to add: here's a link I found off kellymom.

same here

SNL0605 · March 2009

I am a LC....and EVERY one of my books and all of my research has shown there is NO HARM in shaking breast milk when it is chilled. YES the thick fatty stuff is the best (it is the hind milk and provides the majority of the protein and fat for proper brain development)

Im sorry that someone told you otherwise...that is simply incorrect...it is just fine...

SNL0605 · March 2009

I will also add...shaking does not constitute a vigerous shake...just enough to get the fat off the top mixed in is fine

Erin Mary Ackerman · March 2009

I have been in the swirl not shake camp for years.

MG7 · March 2009

Part of the swirl camp too. If you warm it up a bit the swirl/shake takes even less effort.

ross'mommy · March 2009

I am an RN and work in the nursery and a breastfeeding mom of a 21 month old as well. We tell all of our moms, as I was told as well, that you should not shake your breastmilk. To mix it back together, warm it up and then swirl it around and it should mix fine. The key is to warm it before otherwise its never going to get the "fat" from the sides of the bottle.