When it comes to our little ones, our parents are best friends with panic. So much so when it comes to the food they eat. Everything from pumping schedules to storage can be tricky if you have decided to breastfeed your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No mama wants her liquid gold down the drain, and lots of questions like, \u201cHow long does breast milk last after warming?\u201d Luckily for you, I am going to go in-depth to answer that question, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be honest, I have heard this question so many times\u2014half of which was me asking myself. When you read blogs and articles online, you will see a lot of answers. Some of those are accurate, and others are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you ask me, I would say you should consult your lactation consultant or doctor for a personalized evaluation. Regardless, I will tell you what the experts say concerning the shelf life of warmed breast milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, breastmilk that has been warmed or brought to room temperature should be used within two hours. And that means if your little one doesn’t eat it within that stipulated time, it needs to go out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When frozen milk is brought to room temperature, it begins to lose its ability to fight bacteria. Frozen milk left to sit for 24 hours should not be left for more than 2 hours out of the fridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, looking at the available information we have on using warmed milk, I would say breastmilk can be left to thaw for 24 hours outside the freezer. However, after those 24 hours or when warmed, it should be fed to your little one within two hours. <\/a>(2)<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve seen moms that doubt this analysis, but I believe it’s better to be safe than sorry. It\u2019s best to dispose of it rather than take any risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you understand how long warmed breastmilk lasts, you may be wondering where to keep it for such a short time. Well, the best place to store warmed milk would be in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since milk left out will become more susceptible to bacteria, you don\u2019t want to leave it out too long. Ideally, warmed breastmilk should be stored for just 24 hours in the refrigerator, and that\u2019s counting from when the milk was thawed. <\/a>(3)<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The best place to store leftover breastmilk is in the refrigerator. If you thawed the milk in the refrigerator, you can leave it stored there for an additional 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the 24 hours have elapsed, you will need to get rid of the breastmilk. It\u2019s best for your baby\u2019s safety as the quality of the milk is questionable at that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are going to store your warmed milk in the fridge, I suggest you store it in the same bag it was defrosted. You may also want to take off the initial date tag and change it to the date you put it back into the fridge. You could even add the exact time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That way you ensure that the previously warmed milk doesn’t stay in the fridge for more than 24 hours. It\u2019s not that it could make your baby sick but the prolonged storage time makes it lose its nutrients. So, it becomes of no use to your little one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Warm milk should be stirred at room temperature for not more than two hours. This is because bacteria can start to grow when it’s left out for a prolonged time. Bacteria from your baby\u2019s mouth from the first feeding could also be present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, as I’ve been emphasizing it will be better to throw it out after two hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most crucial aspect of pumping breast milk for later use lies in storage. You have to be very careful to make the best out of it and not lose too many nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have to throw out your liquid gold if you don\u2019t follow the accepted, healthy, and safe methods of pumping and storing your breast milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at some ways to store your warmed milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t include the freezer guidelines because you should only freeze freshly expressed milk. As I stated earlier, breast milk cannot stay past 24 hours after it has been thawed and warmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to be very careful when it comes to the storage of your pumped breast milk. Note that no matter the storage method, it is not ideal to leave warmed breast milk out for longer than 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is how long breastmilk can last at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As much as you would love to gauge the exact amount of milk your baby consumes at one feeding, it may be a little tough. This means that there will be times when you have leftovers from a feeding session. Don\u2019t worry though, I\u2019ll let you know what to do in such an instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have discussed how to store warmed milk that hasn\u2019t been used throughout this article. But what do you do if your little one doesn\u2019t finish the expressed milk at a single feeding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, if your baby doesn\u2019t finish the milk at feeding time, it can be reused for up to 2 hours afterward. Otherwise, you will have to throw it out. Consider pumping smaller amounts of breast milk to reduce wastage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No mom wants to see their liquid gold down the drain, and the good thing is that it doesn\u2019t have to. You can arrange your pumping sessions in a way that allows you to express just the right amount of milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some tips on preventing the wastage of your breast milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breast milk that has been warmed can be used within the first two hours at room temperature and for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Regardless, whenever you doubt the quality of the milk, it\u2019s best to throw it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you experienced any hiccups with warmed breast milk? Where do you store your thawed breastmilk before use? Drop your answers in the comment section. I would love to hear your thoughts. References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Where Can I Store My Warm Breast Milk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Can I Refrigerate The Leftover Warm Milk?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Tips To Refrigerate Breastmilk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>What If I Store My Leftover Warm Milk At Room Temperature?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How To Store in Room Temperature, Refrigerator, and Freezer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>How Long Can Breast Milk Store Room Temperature, Refrigerator, and Freezer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>What Should I Know about Re-Using Breast Milk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How Long Can I keep the Unfinished breast milk?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How can I prevent wasting breast milk?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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