How Long Is Warmed Breast Milk Good For

Many breastfeeding mummies are concerned about how to ensure the freshness of their delicious breastmilk. We want the best for our little one but will not want to shove them milk that has gone stale or even contaminated. Question liked how long is warmed breast milk good for is quite common.  

Based on my own personal experience and research, I hope that I can answer most of the commonly asked question about freezing and refrigerating breast milk below.

How long does breast milk last after warming

Once you have warm up your breast milk, you can feed to the hungry monster right away or put in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. If there are no feeding done, do not refreeze the milk. You will have to throw it away. This will also apply for leftover milk after feeding.

Can you save breast milk after it has been heated

Sorry mummies. I know squeeze out every drop of breast milk is hard work but you really cannot save them every time The answer is a big fat no. It should not be kept at room temperature for too long. Breast milk after being heated should be consumed within 2 hours or throw into the bin.

Once breast milk is heated can it be refrigerated

Once heated you can still refrigerate it for up to 4 hours. However, if you want to play safe, it is better to let your little one consume it within 2 hours from heating.

How long is a breastmilk bottle good for after feeding

Balance breast milk after feeding should be refrigerated and consumed within 2 hours or thrown into the bin. Do not keep them at room temperature.  You can thaw additional milk bags if it is insufficient for the next feed.

Thawed breast milk 48 hours

You will have to avoid vigorous shaking for thawed breast milk. It is safe to give your baby thawed breast milk within 48 hours if it has been refrigerated. If warmed it must be used within 4 hours before you have to discard it

Can you freeze refrigerated breast milk

Freshly squeezed refrigerated breast milk can only last up to 8 days even after you freeze. So it is better to freeze it straight away if you plan to keep for a longer period of time in the freezer.

What to do with frozen breast milk

Arrange nicely in milk storage containers in your freezer. I have also written an article about supplies needed for breastfeeding. Ensure that all the milk storage bags are labelled with the date and time of storing. Always practice First in First out(FIFO) to ensure that no breastmilk stays in the freezer for too long

What to do with too much breast milk supply

Thaw and drink it yourself. It may seem strange but you can also use the milk for your own beverages liked coffee or tea. For my case, when I have a lot of excesses, I may also pour all into the bathtub and do a milk bath for the little one. You can also donate them through an organization like the Human Milk Banking Association of North America

How to store breast milk after pumping

Pour the expressed breast milk from the milk bottles into empty milk storage bags. Label them with the date and time before storing into your freezer neatly. If you plan to use it within a day or two, put them into the refrigerator instead.

How to store breast milk at work without fridge

Pour the expressed breast milk from the milk bottles into milk storage bags. Put the milk storage bags into a cooler bag. Label them with date and time. Ensure that you have an ice pack to keep the temperature low for the day. If you want to save money, I would recommend using a reusable ice pack.

Unpack all the milk storage bags either into your fridge or freezer asap once you reach home. If you are using a reusable ice pack, remember to put it into the freezer to use on the next day.

How much milk should I be producing when exclusively pumping

This will actually depend on the age and gradually weight of your baby. Normally your body will react and producing sufficient breast milk according to your little one intake. You may like to check out this article I have written about exclusive pumping.

Breast milk storage guidelines

The following table is breast milk storage guidelines taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)

How long can refrigerated breast milk be left out at room temperature

Freshly pumped breast milk or refrigerated breast milk can be left out at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

Once refrigerated breast milk is heated, it should not be refrigerated or frozen again. It is advisable to consume it within 2 hours.

To sum up how Long Is Warmed Breast Milk Good For

There you go, folks. Hope I have managed to answer more than the question of how long is warmed breast milk good for. Do bookmark this article for future reference if you find it useful. Leave a comment below if you have any other questions. You may also like to check out what are the 8 Tips to Reach Infant Developmental Milestones by Month and How Much Breastmilk Should A Newborn Eat.