Storing breastmilk
Today I will be answering common questions regarding breastmilk storage!
Can you mix freshly expressed breastmilk with chilled breastmilk?
To be honest, there is not one clear answer.
According to the CDC, “mixing freshly expressed breast milk with already cooled or frozen milk is not advised because it can rewarm the older stored milk”, increasing the chance for bacterial growth.
The AAP has gone back and forth on its recommendation, and does not currently state on their website what they recommend.
If you do a quick google search you will find a lot of different opinions, many of them recognizing that breastmilk has antibacterial properties, minimizing the chance of bacterial growth when combining milks of different temperatures.
What it comes down to is what you feel is best for you and your baby. Whether you decide to cool your milk to the same temperature before combining or if you mix freshly pumped milk with chilled milk, that is up to you!
How long does my baby have to drink the bottle once it’s warmed?
Once breastmilk is warmed, it is good for two hours according to the CDC.
Warmed breastmilk is milk that was previously frozen or chilled and has been brought to ROOM TEMPERATURE or WARMED in a bottle warmer!
Why? Once breastmilk is warmed, bacterial growth can be accelerated, making it unsafe to feed to baby after two hours.
When should you freeze extra breastmilk?
As soon as you know you don't need it!!
Although breastmilk can be stored in the back of the fridge for up to 4 days, the properties of breastmilk that slow the growth of bad bacteria begin to decline after a few days.
To ensure the quality of your breastmilk, the sooner you freeze it, the better!
How to thaw frozen breastmilk
Thaw oldest breastmilk first: overtime breastmilk quality decreases
3 safe ways to thaw breastmilk:
Place frozen breastmilk bag in a clean container and in the fridge. The milk will typically defrost in about 12 hours. The milk is good for 24 hours from the moment it is thawed completely (no ice crystals remain)
Run the frozen breastmilk bag under warm tap water to thaw in a matter of minutes. Once milk is warm/at room temperature, it should be used within two hours
Place the frozen breastmilk bag in a container of warm water. Once completely thawed, the warm milk should again be used within two hours
DO NOT thaw breastmilk in the microwave. Doing so can damage the nutritional contents of the milk and create hotspots that could scald baby’s mouth or throat
Never refreeze completely thawed breastmilk.
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