Help! The fatty part of my breast milk isn't mixing after I've swirled it several times. It's been in the fridge since Friday afternoon so I'm wondering if it's not good anymore? Or does it just need to be warmed up?
@kdechairo you weren't wrong when you said to shake it! From another website I found this: Dr Quinn found that it is thought to take about 3000 Newtons of force to denature a beta-folded protein, and determined that a human forearm (the baseline used was swinging a hammer) is only likely to generate about 1.139 Newtons–which is nowhere near enough to cause damage to the milk. Further, she noted that there are other aspects of protein structure that can be protective, and that some proteins exposed to tremendous amounts of shear stress (which might be created by the force of the milk moving against the inside of the bottle) can still remain stable.
Quinn also addressed claims that shaking damages cells. She concluded that this, too, is unlikely, since “Breast milk cells are likely exposed to high shear force at multiple points in their normal life course – from milk ejection to swallowing to digestion.” If anyone here has shot milk across a room, you’ll know what she’s talkin’ ’bout. Quinn concluded that the supposed dangers of shaking milk is probably just a myth.
From kellymom.com since it's used a lot on here "To play it safe, use the smallest amount of force needed to mix the layers, keeping in mind that the layers will mix better as the milk warms. If you do shake the milk, it might not be a problem at all–and even if it turns out that shaking makes a difference it will still be the best nutrition for your child.”
I have only heard of the 5-5-5 rule, not the 3-3-3 rule. Hmmmm I wonder which is best or could it depends on baby and how they like there milk?!?! Or is it new studies that show the 3-3-3 is better now?