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Breastmilk was once thought to be sterile, but researchers now know it abounds with microbial life. The factors that dictate which microbes teem within the milk are still something of a mystery. A new study points to differences caused by pumping verses directly breastfeeding the child, scientists report today (February 13) in Cell Host & Microbe.
The study examined the microbes of nearly 400 mothers’ breastmilk between three and four months after giving birth. The researchers also gathered information about the infants, their mothers, and breastfeeding practices and analyzed different components found in the milk itself, including fatty acids, hormones, and antibodies.
The scientists found that the microbial community varied widely across the milk they examined. Of the many factors they considered, only pumping versus directly feeding emerged as consistent factors in community composition.
The work “shows that pumping and breastfeeding aren’t equivalent, and there are different ...
