Rewarming Expressed Breast Milk

[Kimbles01]

I have expressed milk before so that when I am out, someone else can feed DD. Usually I express and leave the milk sealed but out in room temperature surroundings, as DD will have a feed within 2-3 hours of the milk being expressed.

I know that breast milk will last longer if refrigerated, my question is whether refrigerated milk the needs to be warmed up before being fed to DD, and if so, what temp does it need to be?

[HotI]

Some babies will take ebm cool, and others like it warm. If you are going to heat it, you want it at a similar temp to how it is expressed, so just take the chill off it.

Best way is to run warm water over the container, or sit in a container of warm water.

[boomba]

Make sure you dont microwave it. You can leave BM out on the bench for a certain time I believe...will find the info. I would just warm it slowly with warm water. x

[misty]

We just sit it in some hot water until it has the chill taken off it (lukewarm). Chantelle won't take EBM cold.

[Lisa B]

I just pop it in some boiling water and heat it anywhere between luke warm and warm. Some babies will take it cold or at room temp.

[onthefly]

ABA Info

[Kimbles01]

MadB - I looked on that side prior to starting the thread, dunno if it's just me but I read about storing, but couldn't see anything about reheating breast milk?

[Tegam]

In hospitals we put the bottle of ebm in a small bowl of hot tap water NOT boiling water

I wouldn't give a baby cold milk seems mean after nice warm boobie snuggles

[HotI]

MadB - I looked on that side prior to starting the thread, dunno if it's just me but I read about storing, but couldn't see anything about reheating breast milk?

it took me a bit of searching to find it too! they have some info in the 'caregiver's guide to the breastfed baby' section

Storing, preparing feeds and hygiene

In most cases the mother will leave EBM ready in bottles in the fridge. Fresh EBM can be kept safely in the fridge for up to 5 days. To warm cold EBM stand the bottle in a container of hot water (not boiling) until the EBM reaches body heat. Test how warm the milk is by dropping a little onto your wrist. It is right when it feels warm. Do not overheat or boil EBM as this can destroy some of the nutrients in breastmilk. Do not use a microwave oven to thaw or heat EBM.

Frozen EBM may be in a bottle, storage bag or other container. It can be warmed quickly, or thawed slowly in the fridge. Do not leave frozen EBM standing at room temperature. To thaw quickly, move the bottle or bag of frozen EBM about in a bowl of warm water. As the water cools, add a little hot water to the bowl and keep moving the EBM around until it all becomes liquid. You may need to put the EBM into a clean feeding container. It is a good idea to ask the mother when the baby is likely to need a feed and thaw the EBM before this time. Store thawed EBM in the fridge for no more than 4 hours and heat as for cold EBM.

EBM, like other food, can grow germs, particularly after freezing and thawing. Bottles, teats, spoons, cups or other feeding equipment need to be well washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed well (air-dry or dry with new paper towel if not being used straight away). Personal hygiene is also important. Wash your hands well before you start to prepare a feed.

Breastmilk should not be frozen or heated more than once. Offer small amounts of EBM at a time to the baby. If the baby is not hungry you will not have to throw out large amounts of EBM. If the baby needs more, prepare another small amount.

[onthefly]

Ah! I've just contacted them to suggest they amend that so it's easier to find. Great work HotI

[Kimbles01]

Thanks everyone!