Using frozen EBM beyond the recommended 'use by' date

[Taurean]

Has anyone used frozen EBM that has been frozen longer than the recommended 3 months?

I have a decent stash of EBM in our normal freezer (Fisher & Paykel upside down fridge/freezer which is only a few years old) and some of it has now been there for 3 months. I've been randomly giving it to DD2 and it seems fine but I'm just wondering if I need to use it up quickly now or will it be ok for another couple of months?

I don't want to waste my stash but the only time I *really* need it is when DD1 has swimming lessons and DD2 goes into the crèche. I use it randomly if I'd like a glass of wine or if I'm going out without DD2 but that's not often. I'm not working and won't be working any time soon so it really is just there as a backup.

I've just started trying to rotate my stash by giving DD2 one of the oldest freezer feeds so I can pump a new one to freeze. It's working well but if I don't 'need' to do it, that would be better! Lol!

So what do you think girls?

[AlligatorsMum]

I've seen soemwhere that u can keep froze. EBM in those freezer lock bags like u have up to six months? I'll see if I can find where I read that

[Tegam]

Yea you can keep it frozen for longer. They do suggest in a deep freezer as they are opened less often.

[AlligatorsMum]

This website has info on storing breast milk and it was last updated march 2010. It stats if in separate freezer section of fridge (ie separate door) ebm can be kept 3-6 months.

Breastfeeding: Recommendations: Handling Breastmilk | DNPAO | CDC

[Taurean]

Thanks girls!

Mini - that's great to read. I'd Googled a bit but most sites said 3 months. My OB said to ignore the dates and continue to use it unless it smells bad, especially as I'm only using it for emergencies. I guess it doesn't really matter if my EBM has lost some of its nutritional benefits as DD is drinking from the breast most of the time so she's getting plenty of the health benefits from the fresh stuff, IYKWIM.

[WannabeMum]

What a good thread for me to come across, I've got some EBM, but I've never given DD a bottle (lazy!), but looking at solids, I'd like to use the EBM for the rice cereal, and it's been in the freezer closer to 4 months. I'm gonna use it. She'll still have all her bfs anyway. Can't be worse for her than water, that's for sure!

[~ Mylitta ~]

The reason frozen EBM can go bad is because the enzyme that breaks down fat (lipase) is still active even when frozen (but a lot less active). If the milk has gone bad it has a very obvious smell quite similar to when cow's milk goes bad. I've spoken to someone at the ABA who told me that the milk should be fine to use as long as it doesn't smell bad. She also said that even if the milk is just starting to go bad a baby or child will often refuse to drink it. Smart little cookies aren't they?

Also, the reason that the recommendation is to use frozen EBM up before a year has passed if it is kept in a deep freezer is because that's how long it's been tested for. It seems there have been studies showing that EBM is still fine after a year in a deep freezer, but no studies testing it for longer. So chances are it could last significantly longer in a deep freezer.

[Lisa B]

Yes, I was a full time expresser. At the very end when my DS was about 11 months I was using my frozen supplies and some if was about 4 months old. I was aware that some of the nutritional value might have been changed because of the length of time it was stored. Anyhow the world didn't fall in, my son drank it and I would do it again if needs be...but I'm not a nutritionist so maybe there were things that I wasn't aware of at the time.

[Miss E]

With DS1 I actually put my freezer on a cooler setting. I'd read that a deep freezer was -20 degrees so i set our freezer to that (I think the norm is -18).

In regard to the smell, I've always found that defrosted ebm stinks anyway, not sure if I could distinguish of it had gone off or not... Maybe mine just smells