The study of breast milk for microflora. Why take a breast milk test and what diseases it helps to identify. When the presence of germs in milk can be a sign of illness

To perform sowing, a nursing woman should express about 5-10 ml of milk into a special sterile container, and then give it to a bacteriological laboratory. Then, a few drops of milk are applied to various nutrient media containing the substances necessary for the growth and development of bacteria. The actual process of distributing milk over the surface of the nutrient medium is called sowing. After sowing the milk in a special laboratory glassware (Petri dishes), it is placed in a thermostat, which maintains the optimum temperature for the growth of microorganisms at 37.0 o C. After 5-7 days, colonies of microorganisms present in the breast milk of a woman grow on a nutrient medium. These colonies are identified by a bacteriologist using special techniques, and their number is calculated in special units - CFU / ml.

Most often, according to the results of sowing milk for sterility, various varieties of staphylococci are detected in it, for example, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, etc. However, this is quite natural, since staphylococci are representatives of the normal microflora of the skin, and they enter the milk from the surface of the nipples, where the ducts of the mammary gland open. Staphylococci are representatives of opportunistic microorganisms that normally enter milk and constantly live in the ducts of the mammary glands, without causing any trouble to either the mother or the child. However, with a decrease in immunity, staphylococci can provoke mastitis in a nursing mother and pustular skin lesions in an infant.

It is currently widely believed that staphylococci or any other microorganisms found in mother's milk provoke digestive disorders in a child, for example, colic, gas, liquid, frothy and green stools, frequent regurgitation, poor weight gain, etc. However, this is a misconception, since the microbes present in milk do not harm the baby due to the following reasons:

• The mother's body produces antibodies against microbes that enter her milk from the surface of the skin, so the child receives both the bacterium and protection from it;
• Opportunistic microbes from breast milk are neutralized by hydrochloric acid in the baby's stomach;
• Opportunistic microbes present in mother's breast milk can enter the child's body from numerous surrounding objects, from our own skin and from the air, since we do not live in a sterile atmosphere. Actually, these microbes enter the mother's milk in exactly the same ways.

In general, seeding of milk for sterility is not performed in any developed country of the world, since breast milk is not sterile! According to research data, it has been proven that women's milk contains up to 700 varieties of various bacteria, which are necessary for colonizing the child's intestines with normal microflora, as well as for the formation of digestive processes. Moreover, it was found that breast milk contains the most bacteria from the following types:

• Weissella;
• Leuconostoc;
• Staphylococcus;
• Streptococcus;
• lactococcus;
• Veillonella;
• Leptotrichia;
• Prevotella.

If the mother does not have mastitis, and the child does not have pustules on the skin, then sowing milk for sterility is not needed. The mother can continue breastfeeding the baby, and if there are any complaints, their true cause should be found out, and not trying to "blame" the milk with the bacteria it contains.

In the first months of a baby's life, mothers and babies often have to take many tests that are not informative. Breast milk culture is one of those.

Often it is the results of sowing that cause the baby to be deprived of valuable mother's milk in vain. Therefore, every mother who is determined to breastfeed should be on her guard if the pediatrician suddenly sends her for milk analysis.

Why is breast milk culture given?

Yes, breast milk sterility test. It turns out that this happens.

What happens after the doctor sent a young mother for analysis?

A nursing woman begins to get nervous because her milk can be "bad", "non-sterile". In anticipation of the tests, which are usually prepared within a week, she will be very nervous, which will lead to poor milk flow from the breast.

The child, feeling the mother's nervousness, can also behave very restlessly.

Mom believes that this is definitely because of her non-sterile milk, and then the analysis confirms that her milk contains staphylococcus aureus.

A woman will drink a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor and is unlikely to return to breastfeeding. After all, she was convinced: the milk was really “bad”, and the baby would be better on the mixture.

In some cases, mothers continue breastfeeding but start boiling their own milk to kill the bacteria in it.

This is wrong: mother's milk loses its beneficial properties when boiled.

Important! Also, a woman is sent for sowing due to frequent recurrent mastitis. And this is the only good reason why it is advisable to hand over milk for sterility.

The analysis will determine which flora is sown and which antibiotics will be effective.

In rare cases, milk culture can be informative in infants with sepsis, as well as in cases where he suffers from purulent-inflammatory skin diseases.

Staphylococcus found in milk: what to do?

So, the analysis of breast milk (seeding) revealed the presence of staphylococcus aureus. But there should be no reason for frustration, because there is no pathogenic flora in milk.

Lacto- and bifidobacteria that it contains are normal children's intestinal microflora. Everything that is sown according to the analyzes comes from the ducts or the skin.

A variety of microorganisms live on the skin of any healthy person, including:

• golden and epidermal staphylococcus aureus;
• fungi;
• streptococcus.

There are no norms and standards regarding the microorganisms contained in breast milk (how many of them should be) in medicine.

Interestingly, the baby receives antibodies to staphylococcus with mother's milk. It is very important that immediately after birth, the baby is placed on the mother's breast and allowed to suck out colostrum. So the baby will be able to "populate" with the mother's microflora.

If a child is separated from his mother, he will have to face hospital strains, which will affect immunity in a bad way. It will be difficult to get rid of staphylococcus, which the baby contracted in the hospital.

On a note! If microorganisms that are opportunistic pathogens are found in the sowing of breast milk, the mother does not need to do anything.

Of course, when mastitis develops, the breasts are inflamed, there are lumps, the temperature rises, you will have to seek medical help and decant the diseased breast for some time.

According to WHO, even the presence of staphylococcal mastitis is not an indication for the abolition of breastfeeding. In addition, it is now possible to choose antibiotics that are compatible with feeding.

Recurring mastitis is an occasion to rethink your approach to breastfeeding, eliminate mistakes and prevent congestion.

Mothers should know that intestinal dysbacteriosis, which every second child is diagnosed with today, has nothing to do with infection of the intestines from the external environment.

That is, milk is definitely not to blame here. In addition, most of the microorganisms die in the stomach of the child under the influence of hydrochloric acid.

Washing dries out the skin and promotes cracking, which can lead to mastitis. Bacteria will still get to the baby, because they are on all the objects that surround him.

How to pass the analysis?

Whether to do sowing of breast milk for microflora is a personal matter for each mother. When there is no good reason, the choice is obvious. But if there is a need for this, you need to do everything right:

1. Prepare a sterile container by boiling it for at least 10 minutes. It is better to use a special bag from a laboratory or pharmacy, which is opened before pumping.
2. Wash your hands and chest thoroughly with soap. Dry the skin with a clean towel ironed with a hot iron.
3. Squeeze the first few drops into the sink: they are not suitable for analysis. Pour water over your chest.

It is necessary to express for analysis immediately into the container that will be taken to the laboratory, without touching the inside of the container. For each breast, select a separate container.

5-10 ml of milk is enough for the study.

1. It is necessary to hand over breast milk for sowing to the laboratory within the first three hours after pumping. Ideally, right away.

Mother's milk is necessary for the baby and is not capable of harming him.

If the health of the baby is of concern, and doctors make diagnoses that are associated with "infection of the child with mother's milk", I recommend getting advice from other specialists and conducting an additional examination.

Breastfeeding-friendly doctors are not interested in prescribing a paid examination (and sowing is done in private laboratories), and are not inclined to prescribe treatment based on tests alone, without severe symptoms.

It used to be thought that breast milk was absolutely sterile, but numerous studies have proven that this is not entirely true. Milk can still contain various microorganisms. Basically, these are representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora, which most often quietly exist on the skin, mucous membranes, in the intestines and do not cause any harm. However, under certain conditions (decreased immunity, chronic diseases, general weakness of the body after an infectious disease, intestinal dysbacteriosis), they begin to multiply rapidly, causing various diseases.
The main bacteria that can live in breast milk are: staphylococci (epidermal and aureus), enterobacteria, Klebsiella, fungi of the genus Candida.
The most dangerous of this company is Staphylococcus aureus. It is he who, having penetrated into the mammary gland, can cause purulent mastitis in a nursing mother. And once in the baby's body along with breast milk, staphylococcus aureus can cause diseases such as:

• enterocolitis (frequent, loose, watery stools, abdominal pain, fever, frequent regurgitation, vomiting);
• purulent inflammation on the skin;
• the phenomena of intestinal dysbacteriosis (accelerated stools, excessive gas formation, accompanied by bloating and discharge of a large amount of gases during defecation, frequent regurgitation, the appearance of undigested lumps in the feces, a change in the color of feces - yellow-green, the color of marsh mud). Staphylococcus aureus is protected from the outside by a capsule that helps it penetrate organs and tissues without being destroyed. After the invasion, it begins to release toxic substances that have a destructive effect on the structure of cells. This type of staphylococcus is very resistant to various external factors, and it can be very difficult to “expel” it from the body. Other microorganisms, having settled in breast milk, can also cause a lot of trouble.
• Mushrooms of the genus Candida, hemolyzing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella, which penetrate the child with breast milk, are able to ferment glucose, sucrose and lactose, while forming a large amount of gas. This, in turn, causes pain, bloating and diarrhea in the child.

How do microbes get into milk?

Microorganisms enter breast milk mainly through the skin. This can happen if the baby is incorrectly applied to the breast, the breast is incorrectly removed from his mouth, and mistakes are made when caring for the mammary glands. In such cases, microtraumas and cracks in the nipples may appear, which are the entrance gate for infection to enter the mammary glands and, accordingly, into breast milk.
Who "lives" in milk?
You can find out which microbes live in breast milk and in what quantity by doing a special study, the so-called sowing milk.

It allows you to detect various pathogens in it, determine their number and, if necessary, determine sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.
It is not at all necessary for all lactating women to take milk for analysis to find out if it is dangerous for the baby. Such a study should be carried out only in cases where there is a suspicion of infectious diseases in the baby or inflammatory diseases of the mammary gland in the mother.
In what cases is it necessary to hand over milk for analysis? The indications will be as follows.
From the side of the child:

• recurring purulent-inflammatory diseases of the skin;
• dysbacteriosis;
• prolonged diarrhea (frequent loose stools) with greens and mucus.

From mom's side:

• signs of mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) - chest pain, fever, redness of the skin of the mammary gland, purulent discharge from it.

How to collect milk for analysis?

When collecting breast milk for analysis, it is important to understand that it is necessary to try to exclude the possibility of bacteria from the skin entering the milk. Otherwise, the result of the study may be unreliable. There are certain rules for collecting breast milk for sowing.

1. First of all, you need to prepare a container for expressed milk. These can be sterile disposable plastic cups (you can buy them at a pharmacy) or clean glass jars that must first be boiled with a lid for 15-20 minutes.
2. There should be two containers for expressed milk, as the milk for analysis from each breast is collected separately. Containers should be labeled from which breast the milk was taken.
3. Before pumping, wash your hands and chest with warm water and soap.
4. The first 5–10 ml of expressed milk is not suitable for testing and should be discarded. After that, the required amount of breast milk (5–10 ml from each mammary gland is required for analysis) must be expressed into prepared sterile containers and tightly closed with lids.

In the laboratory, milk is sown on a special nutrient medium. After about 5-7 days, colonies of various microbes grow on it. Next, it is determined to which group of pathogens these microorganisms belong, and their number is counted.

Should you breastfeed with mastitis?

If germs are present in breast milk, a breastfeeding mother should consult a doctor. Only he can decide whether treatment is necessary or not. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the detection of bacteria in breast milk is not a reason to stop breastfeeding. The fact is that all pathogens, penetrating into the body of a nursing mother, stimulate the production of special protective proteins - antibodies that get to the baby during feeding and protect him. That is, if some microorganisms are found in the milk, but there are no signs of disease (purulent mastitis), breastfeeding will be safe, since the child receives protection from infections along with milk.

If staphylococcus is found in breast milk, treatment with antibacterial drugs is prescribed only in case of purulent mastitis in the mother, when she has signs of infection. At the same time, doctors recommend temporarily (for the duration of the mother's treatment with antibiotics) not to put the baby to the diseased breast, to regularly express milk from it, but to continue to feed him from a healthy mammary gland.

In cases where the symptoms of a staphylococcal infection are found in both the mother and the child, the mother and baby are treated simultaneously. At the same time, this disease can manifest itself in a child in different ways:

• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (at the same time, the eyelids swell and the eyes fester);
• inflammation of the area around the navel (the skin in this place swells, turns red and pus is released from the umbilical wound);
• purulent-inflammatory skin lesions (bubbles of various sizes appear on the baby's skin, filled with purulent contents, and the skin around them turns red);
• inflammation of the small and large intestines (in this case, abundant watery stools appear up to 8-10 times a day, maybe with an admixture of mucus and blood, vomiting, abdominal pain).

To confirm the diagnosis and determine the pathogen, the doctor may prescribe a culture of the inflammation separated from the focus (eyes, umbilical wound, the contents of the vesicles on the skin). And in case of violation of the intestines in a baby, a fecal analysis for microflora is prescribed.

How to keep milk "clean"

In order for the milk to remain “pure” and it was not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding, depriving the baby of the best food for him, a nursing mother can be advised to follow a diet with a restriction of sweet, starchy and rich foods, as their abundance creates a favorable environment for the reproduction and growth of microbes.
It is also important to prevent the formation of cracked nipples. And for this you need to properly attach the baby to the breast (at the same time, the baby captures most of the areola, and not just the nipple, its lower lip is turned outward, and the nose touches the chest) and follow a few rules when caring for the mammary glands (wash the breast no more than 1– 2 times a day; arrange air baths for the nipples after feeding and between them; lubricate the nipples after feeding with drops of “hind” milk released at the end of feeding, as it has protective and healing properties and protects the nipple from dryness; do not apply to treat the nipple and areola, various disinfectants - brilliant green, alcohol, etc., as this contributes to the drying of the skin of the nipple and areola, followed by cracking).
If cracks nevertheless appear, then it is necessary to treat them in a timely manner in order to prevent the infection from joining and the development of mastitis.

Should I be treated if nothing hurts?

When staphylococcus aureus is present in breast milk, but there are no signs of infection in a nursing woman, breastfeeding is not stopped, but at the same time, as a rule, the mother is prescribed treatment (orally and locally) with drugs from the group of antiseptics that are not contraindicated in breastfeeding, and the child is given a doctor prescribe probiotics (bifido- and lactobacilli) for the prevention of dysbacteriosis.

Many women think that if there are no signs of a disease, then treatment can not be carried out. However, this opinion cannot be considered correct. The problem is that in such a situation, the mother’s condition will not worsen, but the baby can be harmed. If a child is fed infected milk for a long time, then the composition of bacteria in his intestines may be disturbed and the body's defenses will fail. Therefore, the mother must be treated without interrupting breastfeeding.

We evaluate the result of the analysis of breast milk

What can be seen on the analysis form that comes from the laboratory?

• Option 1. When sowing milk, no growth of microflora is observed, i.e. milk is sterile. It should be noted that this result of the analysis is very rare.
• Option 2. When sowing milk, the number of non-pathogenic microorganisms (epidermal staphylococcus aureus, enterococci) increased insignificantly. These bacteria are representatives of the normal microflora of the mucous membranes and skin and do not pose a danger.
• Option 3. When sowing milk, pathogens were found (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, hemolyzing Escherichia coli, fungi of the genus Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Their allowable content in breast milk is no more than 250 colonies of bacteria per 1 ml of milk (CFU / ml).

Breast milk is a product unique in its composition, containing many substances useful for the baby. Currently, most mothers are striving for full breastfeeding.

After all, it is known that breast milk fully provides the baby with all the nutritional components necessary for full growth (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins), because it contains them in the required quantities and in the correct proportions. In addition, mother's milk contains special biologically active substances, the so-called protective factors that support the immunity of the child's body. The infant's own mechanisms to prevent infectious diseases are immature, and colostrum and breast milk, due to their composition, protect the intestinal mucosa from inflammation, inhibiting the growth of pathogens, and also stimulate the maturation of intestinal cells and the production of factors of their own immune defense. The highest concentration of protective factors is noted in colostrum, in mature milk it decreases, but at the same time the volume of milk increases, and, as a result, the child receives protection from many diseases constantly, throughout the entire period of breastfeeding. The longer breastfeeding, the more protected the baby from disease.

It used to be thought that breast milk was absolutely sterile, but numerous studies have proven that this is not entirely true. Milk can still contain various microorganisms. Basically, these are representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora, which most often quietly exist on the skin, mucous membranes, in the intestines and do not cause any harm. However, under certain conditions (decreased immunity, chronic diseases, general weakness of the body after an infectious disease, intestinal dysbacteriosis), they begin to multiply rapidly, causing various diseases.
The main bacteria that can live in breast milk are: staphylococci (epidermal and golden), enterobacteria, fungi of the genus Candida.
The most dangerous of this company is Staphylococcus aureus. It is he who, having penetrated into the mammary gland, can cause purulent mastitis in a nursing mother. And once in the baby's body along with breast milk, staphylococcus aureus can cause diseases such as:

• enterocolitis (frequent, loose, watery stools, abdominal pain, fever, frequent regurgitation, vomiting);
• purulent inflammation on the skin;
• the phenomena of intestinal dysbacteriosis (accelerated stools, excessive gas formation, accompanied by bloating and discharge of a large amount of gases during defecation, frequent regurgitation, the appearance of undigested lumps in the feces, a change in the color of feces - yellow-green, the color of marsh mud).

Staphylococcus aureus is protected from the outside by a capsule that helps it penetrate organs and tissues without being destroyed. After the invasion, it begins to release toxic substances that have a destructive effect on the structure of cells. This type of staphylococcus is very resistant to various external factors, and it can be very difficult to “expel” it from the body. Other microorganisms, having settled in breast milk, can also cause a lot of trouble.

Mushrooms of the genus Candida, hemolyzing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella, which penetrate the child with breast milk, are able to ferment glucose, sucrose and lactose, while forming a large amount of gas. This, in turn, causes pain, bloating and diarrhea in the child.

Sometimes feeding a child can be overshadowed by an infectious disease of the mother. Is breast milk still good for the baby if it gets infected? In this case, there is a risk of transmission of the infection to the child through breast milk and the question arises of continuing breastfeeding. The question of whether to continue breastfeeding or not is decided together with the attending pediatrician.

In some diseases of the mother, breastfeeding is absolutely contraindicated. Can't feed if mom has

• active form of tuberculosis (signs of the disease are pronounced, and there are pathological changes in the body);
• syphilis, if the infection occurred after 32 weeks of pregnancy;
• HIV infection and viral hepatitis;
• chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys and liver in the acute stage;
• a pronounced decrease in hemoglobin and exhaustion in the mother;
• severe course and complications of diabetes mellitus;
• malignant neoplasms;
• any disease requiring long-term treatment with drugs harmful to the child;
• drug addiction, excessive alcohol consumption;
• acute mental illness.

In the case of acute purulent mastitis, breastfeeding is stopped (most often for the duration of antibiotic treatment, up to 7 days). For other forms of mastitis (not purulent), experts recommend continuing breastfeeding. This will quickly eliminate the stagnation of milk.

Very often, in order to identify pathogens, sick nursing mothers are invited to hand over breast milk for analysis, which determines the microbiological sterility of milk, after which the issue of breastfeeding is decided. The study is carried out in the bacteriological laboratories of the Central Geological Institute or medical institutions, information about which is available from the local pediatrician. How justified are such studies? According to the World Health Organization, each pathogenic microbe that infects a nursing mother stimulates the production of special protective proteins - antibodies that enter breast milk and protect babies, both full-term and premature. Scientists have identified antibacterial and antiviral factors found in breast milk that can resist most infections. Breast milk and feces of infants who consume this milk were studied. It turned out that in most cases the microorganisms found in milk are absent in the child's feces. This suggests that microbes that can cause diseases, getting into the baby's intestines with milk, do not always take root there, which is facilitated by the protective properties of breast milk. Thus, even if some microorganisms are found in the milk, but there are no signs of acute purulent mastitis, breastfeeding will be safe, because with milk the baby also receives protection from diseases.

In what cases is it necessary to hand over milk for analysis? It is not at all necessary for all lactating women to take milk for analysis to find out if it is dangerous for the baby. Such a study should be carried out only in cases where there is a suspicion of infectious diseases in the baby or inflammatory diseases of the mammary gland in the mother.
The indications will be as follows.

From the side of the child:

• recurring purulent-inflammatory diseases of the skin;
• dysbacteriosis;
• prolonged diarrhea (frequent loose stools) with greens and mucus.

From mom's side:

• signs of mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) - chest pain, fever, redness of the skin of the mammary gland, purulent discharge from it.

How to collect milk for analysis?

When collecting breast milk for analysis, it is important to understand that it is necessary to try to exclude the possibility of bacteria from the skin entering the milk. Otherwise, the result of the study may be unreliable. There are certain rules for collecting breast milk for sowing.

First of all, you need to prepare a container for expressed milk. These can be sterile disposable plastic cups (you can buy them at a pharmacy) or clean glass jars that must first be boiled with a lid for 15-20 minutes.

There should be two containers for expressed milk, as the milk for analysis from each breast is collected separately. Containers should be labeled from which breast the milk was taken.

Before pumping, wash your hands and chest with warm water and soap.

The first 5–10 ml of expressed milk is not suitable for testing and should be discarded. After that, the required amount of breast milk (5–10 ml from each mammary gland is required for analysis) must be expressed into prepared sterile containers and tightly closed with lids. Delivery to the laboratory should not exceed 2 hours from the moment of milk collection.

In the laboratory, milk is sown on a special nutrient medium. After about 5-7 days, colonies of various microbes grow on it. Next, it is determined to which group of pathogens these microorganisms belong, and their number is counted.

We evaluate the result of the analysis of breast milk

Option 1. When sowing milk, no growth of microflora is observed, i.e. milk is sterile. It should be noted that this result of the analysis is very rare.

Option 2. When sowing milk, the number of non-pathogenic microorganisms (epidermal staphylococcus aureus, enterococci) increased insignificantly. These bacteria are representatives of the normal microflora of the mucous membranes and skin and do not pose a danger. Their allowable content in breast milk is no more than 250 colonies of bacteria per 1 ml of milk (CFU / ml).

Option 3. When sowing milk, pathogens were found (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, hemolyzing Escherichia coli, fungi of the genus Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Should I be treated if nothing hurts?

When Staphylococcus aureus or other pathogenic microorganisms are present in breast milk, but there are no signs of infection in a nursing woman, breastfeeding is not stopped, but, as a rule, the mother is prescribed treatment (orally and locally) with drugs from the group of antiseptics, which are not contraindicated in case of breastfeeding, and the doctor will prescribe probiotics (bifido- and lactobacilli) for the child to prevent dysbacteriosis.
Many women think that if there are no signs of a disease, then treatment can not be carried out. However, this opinion cannot be considered correct. The problem is that in such a situation, the mother's condition may not worsen, but the baby can be harmed. If a child is fed infected milk for a long time, then the composition of bacteria in his intestines may be disturbed and the body's defenses will fail. Therefore, the mother must be treated without interrupting breastfeeding.

How to keep milk "clean"

In order for the milk to remain “pure” and it was not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding, depriving the baby of the best food for him, a nursing mother can be advised to follow a diet with a restriction of sweet, starchy and rich foods, as their abundance creates a favorable environment for the reproduction and growth of microbes.

It is also important to prevent the formation of cracked nipples. And for this you need to properly attach the baby to the breast (at the same time, the baby captures most of the areola, and not just the nipple, its lower lip is turned outward, and the nose touches the chest) and follow a few rules when caring for the mammary glands (wash the breast no more than 1– 2 times a day; arrange air baths for the nipples after feeding and between them; lubricate the nipples after feeding with drops of "hind" milk released at the end of feeding, as it has protective and healing properties and protects the nipple from dryness; do not apply to treat the nipple and areola, various disinfectants - brilliant green, alcohol, etc., as this contributes to the drying of the skin of the nipple and areola, followed by the occurrence of cracks).

If cracks nevertheless appear, then it is necessary to treat them in a timely manner in order to prevent the infection from joining and the development of mastitis.

Mom's milk is recognized as a unique product with an ideal balance of nutrients. Getting it by a child regularly causes strong immunity, reduces allergic reactions, which is not uncommon for artificial mixtures. But even such a product can sometimes be harmful. Consider such a study as the analysis of breast milk, its types, methods.

What is the name of the analysis of breast milk?

Before handing over 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;
• the presence of antibodies.

Analysis of breast milk for sterility

This technique is necessary to exclude the presence of harmful microorganisms. They can penetrate both from the outside, and move from the focus of inflammation in the body of a woman along with the blood flow. Such an analysis of breast milk specifically identifies the type of microorganism, determines its concentration. Based on the results obtained, drugs are prescribed. Deciphering the analysis of the microflora of breast milk is carried out exclusively by a doctor. Often fix the presence of:

• staphylococcus;
• enterobacteria;
• fungus candida;
• klebsiella.

The study is mandatory in the presence of inflammatory and infectious processes in the gland. Accurate identification of the pathogen helps to quickly begin effective therapy, eliminate the symptoms and manifestations of the disease. The nursing woman herself should be interested in his appointment. The complexity 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. The analysis of breast milk for composition also involves determining the degree of its fat content. At the same time, for testing, it is necessary to collect only the biological material that is released after about 2-4 minutes from the start of pumping. For collection it is necessary to use a clean, washed and sterilized container.

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 evaluated. After this time, a layer of cream forms on the surface. It is important not to shake the container during the test. When evaluating the results after the analysis of breast milk, it is considered that 1 mm of the creamy layer corresponds to 1% fat content. According to statistics, this indicator is an average, so do not worry if it differs slightly downwards. Problems can arise in the opposite case - due to a large percentage of fat.

Analysis of breast milk for staphylococcus aureus

This method is often carried out when determining the causes of mastitis during lactation. It can develop as a result of stagnation or penetration of pathogenic microorganisms through nipple cracks. In order to take an analysis of breast milk for staphylococcus, a woman takes it into a sterile container. The resulting sample is sent to the laboratory. The material is placed on a nutrient medium, cultivated. Over time, the result is evaluated by microscopy. In most cases, identifies the appointment of antibacterial drugs leads to getting rid of mastitis.

Analysis of breast milk for antibodies

It is carried out in the presence of a Rh conflict - a violation in which the Rh factor of the mother and child do not match. To exclude the possibility of getting antibodies from the mother's body to the baby, doctors advise to stop breastfeeding or wait until the baby is one month old. You can exclude this fact by conducting a test. Deciphering the analysis of breast milk is carried out exclusively by a doctor. As a result, the concentration of antibodies present is indicated, if any, or their absence is stated.

Where can I take a breast milk test?

Talking about where you can do an analysis of breast milk, doctors first name large medical centers. Laboratories also function at perinatal institutions. Laboratory diagnostics requires special modern equipment and qualified personnel. Depending on the type of study, the speed of obtaining results may vary. For example, when determining sterility, it can take about a week.

How to collect breast milk for analysis?

Talking about how to properly donate breast milk for analysis, doctors note that sampling from each gland should be done in different containers. In this case, it is very important to carry out the preparation process, which consists in the following:

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

The last portion is used for evaluation. Its volume should not exceed 10 ml. In the process of decanting, it is necessary to avoid touching the nipples with your hands. Transportation of the sample is carried out in a container, no later than 2-3 hours from the moment of sampling. Storage of the collected material even in the refrigerator before transfer to the laboratory is unacceptable. This can skew the results when determining the percentage of fat content.

Considering all the above rules, the mother can first breastfeed the baby so as not to express it on her own, if feeding during this period is not prohibited. With the results obtained, it is necessary to contact a specialist in the processes of lactation. Evaluation of available data helps to identify problems and ways to solve them. Full compliance with the recommendations and instructions given leads to the normalization of the lactation process, eliminates digestive disorders in the baby.