Feeding Expressed Breast Milk Alters the Microbial Network of Breast Milk and Increases Breast Milk Microbiome Diversity over Time

Breastfeeding supplies nutrition, immunity, and hormonal cues to infants. Feeding expressed breast milk may result in de-phased milk production and feeding times, which distort the real-time circadian cues carried by breast milk. We hypothesized that providing expressed breast milk alters the microbiotas of both breast milk and the infant's gut. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the microbiota of serial breast milk and infant fecal samples obtained from 14 mother-infant dyads who were lactating, half of which were providing expressed breast milk. Infant fecal microbiota showed lower α-diversity than breast milk microbiota. Bacterial amplicon sequence variant sharing occurred between breast milk and infant feces with no feeding group differences. However, the age-dependent gain in breast milk α-diversity was only significant in the expressed breast milk group and not in the direct breastfeeding group, suggesting that decreased contact with the infant's mouth influences the milk microbiota. Trending lower connectivity was also noted with breast milk microbes in the direct breastfeeding group, consistent with regular perturbations of the developing baby's oral microbiota by latching on the breast. The results of this preliminary study urge further research to independently confirm the effects of providing expressed breast milk and their health significance.