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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Frozen EBM -no nutritional value?

12 replies

mandler · 05/01/2008 10:54

I just read in the Baby Whisperer than frozen bm has no more nutritional value than formula - is this true??

OP posts:
CorrieDale · 05/01/2008 10:59

No idea, but bumping for you. Bear in mind, though, that the Baby Whisperer is crap on breastfeeding. Honestly - I had all kinds of odd ideas about bfing thanks to her. Most of it is garbage, so I wouldn't be surprised if this were too!

moondog · 05/01/2008 11:00

Wot a load of shite.

CorrieDale · 05/01/2008 11:04

Lol! As a matter of interest, does she give references for this? And say who funded the research?

kiskidee · 05/01/2008 11:17

I s'pose that freezing it turns it to water?

MrsBadger · 05/01/2008 11:18

bolleaux

mummypig · 05/01/2008 11:20

Best to look on a site that bases their comments on actual research, not just opinion, like www.kellymom.com or the La Leche League International site. Off the top of my head, I would suspect that the immunological properties of the milk could be reduced if you freeze it, and possibly some of the physical properties (freezing even cows milk can disturb the way the fats and proteins are arranged) but the overall nutritional make up, in terms of the proportion of fat, carbohydrate and protein, won't be changed. So basically it's crap.

And I completely agree that the Baby Whisperer is of limited help with breastfed babes. For example, the 'dream feed' just didn't work with my two - unless from a bottle (has anyone ever managed to breastfeed a baby when the baby doesn't want to??). Plus she makes several comments that colic is not real, just a result of an inappropriate routine. I'm sorry, that's complete b**ks. Ds2 screamed the place down because he had severe reflux, and ds1 because he reacted to the slightest trace of cow's milk protein in my milk. Once we'd worked out what was going on, the 'colic' disappeared. Not related to routines at all.

The reactions to cow's milk are the other reason why I would always prefer ebm, frozen or not, to any kind of formula - I know what has gone into it! Even the elemental formulas made for severely allergic children are based on cow's milk, and soya can cause the same reactions in children sensitive to cow's milk - and did with ds1 because I tried him on soya formula before I knew any better. Several reasons why, in our family, formula is not allowed through the door, although I know that in other families it is extremely useful.

I'll get off my soapbox now! but if you are thinking of using ebm, it might be worth checking how long it lasts in the fridge, because I used to be able to keep mine for about 5 days without having to freeze it. Again, the info should be on kellymom or LLLI.

NineUnlikelyNewYearResolutons · 05/01/2008 11:23

Short answer - no.

Long answer - yes and......nah, can't be bothered

NineUnlikelyNewYearResolutons · 05/01/2008 11:23

That second bit was supposed to be no as well BTW [arse emoticon]

tiktok · 05/01/2008 13:36

mandler, the BW is absolutely hopelessly under-informed about how bf works....seriously rubbish.

Freezing ebm does slightly amend the nutrients, it's true, but not to the extent that it reduces the quality to that of formula. How ridiculous

dal21 · 05/01/2008 15:59

hi - am with corrie on this one. let a lot of the bfeeding stuff in BW go over my head. (Although the dream feed has worked with DS (but have to express and DH gives feed with bottle) and the other stuff like reading babies cues on tiredness have worked a treat)

Re. the frozen EBM - total and utter rubbish. You do have to be careful about how you defrost it (and off the top of my head I recall that this is as a result of trying to protect the nutrients / proteins in it). But as mummypig says - you know exactly what is in it, more importantly, your baby knows and recognises the milk. How it can be likened to formula is quite simply beyond me.

Express and stash away - it gives you peace of mind knowing it is there if you ever need it.

chipmonkey · 05/01/2008 16:47

Agree with everyone that Baby Whisperer is shoite when it comes to bf. Frozen EBM is not as good as fresh but is still far better than formula.

mandler · 05/01/2008 22:50

Thanks everyone - thank god I didn't follow BW advice from day one then. Why do so many people swear by it???
First bottle of ebm now in the freezer for a rainy day.....

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