So, I'm currently supplementing with frozen breastmilk. I've been trying to find information on how to defrost breastmilk and how long it will last in the fridge after defrosting. Everything I read online is contradictory!
Tell me your thoughts, moms who have been there. Do you defrost milk in the fridge? How long do you leave it in the fridge after defrosting? Do you store your milk in your regular freezer or in a separate freezer?
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I think taste test is the ultimate test, sorry if that's gross.
We use lanolish storage bags and tried to avoid storing them in the door of the freezer since that's what gets exposed to the most heated temp regularly. We had a freezer downstairs at our old house so most of my milk went down there since that got opened and closed less.
As for thawing I just usually microwaved some water till it was lukewarm and then gently swirled the bag of milk in there till it was warm.
She usually drank it all but I think my cutoff was around 2 days for thawed milk back in the fridge, but I can't remember if it was even that long because she usually drank it before then. But honestly smell it and give it a sip, you'll be able to taste if it's got funk.
honeydew / 7917 posts
Kelly Mom says:
Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (this takes about 12 hours – try putting it in the fridge the night before you need it). Avoid letting milk sit out at room temperature to thaw.
For quicker thawing, hold container under running water – start cool and gradually increase temperature.
Previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has finished thawing. Do not refreeze.
At first I would defrost the milk in the fridge, but it takes forever. Towards the end I would just take the milk out of the freezer and run it under cold water. If I left it in a bowl of cold water, it would defrost within half an hour. That way I didn't have to worry if I left the milk in the fridge too long, and I would be more in control of the defrosting time.
pomegranate / 3595 posts
I trust kelly mom. Most of our pumped milk gets frozen then defrosted for lo. We usually take milk down the morning before for the next days bottles or the night before if we forget in the morning. We use the milkmate 4 oz storage bottles and it has worked out well.
I do second the taste test if in doubt!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
I just freeze my milk on the regular freezer - we don't have room for a separate deep freeze (yet). I freeze about 15 oz a day and defrost about 4 oz of older milk (from a month ago) for use the next day. I defrost by leaving it in the fridge overnight (in the Medela bag that it's frozen in). I use that milk within 24 hours of it being totally defrosted. I also mix the older milk with newer milk to make sure DS is getting nutritionally appropriate milk.
cherry / 226 posts
If baby needs it right away, I defrost in warm water. If it's for daycare, I put it in a container of water, in the fridge the night before, by morning it's ready to pour in the bottle.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
We have a small mini fridge that we use to store her milk, bottles etc.
I defrost frozen in the bottom shelve of the fridge overnight.
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