Thawing and Using Frozen Breastmilk...and Other Frantic Questions!

Hi there. Everyone has different things to say, but here's a great site for all things breastfeeding and pumping, including storage, intake and anything else you can think of:

http://kellymom.com/

Also, I joined a pumping moms yahoo group and that is awesome and super helpful.

Good luck.

Hi V.,

I know just how you feel. I was so anxious about this issue when I returned to work after my first daughter was born. Here are the La Leche League guidelines for breastmilk storage.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

1. I would maybe freeze 5- to six-ounce servings so that you don't have to worry about saving milk or mixing it.

2. Yes, I would refrigerate the milk you pump for the next day.

3. I thawed frozen milk the night before if I didn't already have enough from what I pumped that day. I put sticky notes on the bottles so that day care knew which one to feed first. Once you thaw it, you must use it within a day. You do not want to waste it!

4. He'll tell you when he has had enough. Breastfed babies often drink less than formula fed babies, so it might not seem like much. My daughter took three to four ounces every three hours at that age.

5. This is tricky. I rinsed my pump parts out with hot water at work and dried them with paper towels. Each night, I washed them with soap and water and then sterilized them with the Medela microwave bags.

It is a lot to think about, but you'll get into a routine. Good luck!

I pumped and nursed my last daughter as well. And here is what I got. It is fine to save some of the milk from one bottle to the next, as long as you took out the extra before your son used it. Now when you start storing milk store it in the correct size bag ratio. As far as when to use the fresh milk, it is up to you. I stored some in the freezer that way I knew I had it. In the morning when I pumped I put that in the fridge for the first bottle and then used frozen milk the rest of the time. At work I stored my milk in an avent bottle and when i got hope I distributed it into the bag and marked and froze those ones. I bought a milk bad storage kit from Babies-r-us that was very useful. It was small and held the bags upright in the freezer. It also had a chart right on the outsode that said how long the milk was good in conditions. While I work I pumped more than once and for lack of time and space just cleaned my cups with very hot water and then washed them when I got home. However, you can buy cleaning towels for them that look like a baby wipe, I don't know how good they are but I do know they are there. If any of us confuse you or you are still unsure then call the doc and they will help you. I comend you for continuing to nurse and I hope you stick to it and all goes well. If you have anymore queastions please feel free to email me! Good Luck!

S.

The best resource i could have ever received
"the womanly art of breastfeeding" it is put out by la leche and it has TONS of advice on breasfeeding as well as parenting in the early years. I did not read cover to cover, but resourced it constantly

Put your milk that you pump into the disposable platex nurser bags and close with a twistie. Already sterile for you, freeze well, and thaw well in a cup of hot water or in the fridge...never microwave. Don't keep leftovers..the cow has more where that came from, and you don't want to run the risk of germs. Overnight thaw in fridge is fine. Here's a funny story. I worked 11p-7a and my milk never got used up since my kids slept well. I threw away once, and my nephew thought he found bags of crack in the alley...frozen breast milk spilled on ground on garbage day. Love the innocence. Good luck and enjoy your baby. They grow so fast....my daughter has boobs, my son has a girl fiend....heavy sigh...the joys of motherhoood. W.

1. You can use it at the next feeding. I would split the milk into smaller sizes as you continue to freeze milk. I usually tried to keep a variety of sizes and would then pull whatever combination I needed to make my son's bottles for the day.

2. I usually used what I pumped one day the next. Froze any extra or pulled from the freezer stash if I needed to.

3. 24 hours. Usually I would move frozen into the fridge the night before and then take to the sitters the next day.

4. 5-6 oz, three times a day seems fine for a 3 mo. old. As long as he is having enough wet and dirty diapers, he's fine.

5. I worked in an older building while I was pumping. We never drank the water (had bottled brought in), so I wasn't comfortable rinsing my pump parts. Medela makes a wipe that you can use on your pump to clean the parts. I used them after every time I pumped at work and then used the Medela microwave bags to sterilize the parts at night after I scrubbed the parts at home.

Good luck! Congrats!
-H.

Geisinger Hospital has a breast feeding course for free. It is about two hours long but it is really informative. Maybe your hopital has the same thing.
Do not microwave, just run under hot water. NEVER refreeze leftover breast milk. However you can put it back in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Breast milk only last for 4 hours in room temp. 24 hours in a cooler with ice packs. 5-7 days in a refrigerator. 3-4 months in a freezer unit. And 6-12 months in a deep freezer at 0 degrees F or -19 degrees C.
We found that the best thing was to freeze the bags in 4-5 oz at a time. We found it safer to just heat more if needed. And make sure you try Vent-air bottles my baby loves them.

Well im breastfeeding my 3mo also but not going back to work but i did talk to my doctor about the milk i pump. She told me that milk at room temperature can stand for 10hrs., in the fridge 8 days, in the freezer 3-4months and in a deep freezer 12 months. After I thaw milk out for my son and he doesn't drink it all I put it in the fridge but only leave it in there for maybe 2 days at the most. I try to avouid throwin away my milk as much as pa=ossible i call it liquid gold lol. Question 2 i think its best to use it by experation date I say FIFO (first in first out). Question 4 only the doctor can tell u if the baby is getting enough based on his weight. Question 5 it shold be ok to just rinse the bottle at work as long as u scrub it good when u get home. So good luck with going back to work.

Hi! I've been breast feeding and pumping for over two years now (2 different children). I really can't add anymore info for you then what's already been given...

I just wanted to congratulate you on your choice to continue breastfeeding!! You'll find your rhythem and what works best for you!

You got good advice already so I'll just add one thing. If your child will be in daycare, the daycare providers may have to throw away the milk leftover after a feeding. In DE, that is in the requirements for daycare centers and in-home daycare. If that is the case, you may want to split it into smaller bags.

Hi V.,

I understand your anxiety as I just recently started back to work and I'm also exclusively breastfeeding my son. I'll try to answer your questions as I understand them. I also freeze my milk and use fresh pumped milk.

1) First, I would suggest that you start freezing your milk in smaller amounts. Primarily b/c I think once it's thawed, it has to be used within 24 hours. I find that sometimes I only need a couple ounces or so to top off the fresh breastmilk and I wouldn't want to thaw more than I need. I think as long as you use the thawed breastmilk the same day (within 24 hours, you should be ok.

2) I always try to use the fresh milk I pump for the next day. As I understand, frozen milk loses a little bit of the nutrients when frozen, so I always feel like if I have enough the fresh milk is better. Than I use the frozen milk for emergencies or when I don't seem to be able to pump enough.

3) I think thawed milk is ok for 24 hours, I'd like to hear other opinions on that, but that's what I use as a rule of thumb. I always use it the same day, probably within 10 hours of it being thawed. I always send prepared bottles to the sitter. Then I bring the pumped milk home and make new bottles for the next day.

4) My son is five months old and probably close to 19 lbs and only takes 6 oz still. I was worried that he wasn't getting enough either, but even when I tried to put in 7 oz, he always seems to stop at 6.

5) I always just rinse them with hot water and a little soap while I'm at work and then I sterilize everything each night. They have these great sterilizer bags that you just put the parts in and put into the microwave for 3 minutes. They are very convenient.

I hope this helps, I would like to see other responses too b/c some of these questions are questions I had and I want to make sure that the info I gave you was correct. Good luck with continuing to breastfeed. Going back to work makes it a little more challenging, but I'm so glad I continued breastfeeding my son and it's working out fine.

First of all, great job on your efforts to continue breastfeeding while working! My daughter is four years old now and I never gave her a drop of formula.

My experience was as follows:

I started pumping after each feeding about 2 weeks before I went back to work to build up my milk supply. I froze all of that milk. When I started back to work, I pumped three different times during the 8 hour period. My pump had a cooler in it so I put the milk in bags and kept it in the cooler for the rest of the day. This usually gave me about 3 bags per day but ounces would vary. When she went to the babysitter, I would give 4 bottles of milk, the three from the previous day that I had pumped and one from the freezer. I asked her to use the one from the freezer first to get rid of it. Anything additional that she brought back at the end of the day, I would give her again for the next day and ask her to use that first. Sometimes, I froze a fresh bag just to keep the sequence going. I would adjust according to how much my daughter was eating.

Different sources will tell you different expiration dates for breast milk. I kept breast milk in the freezer for no more than a month and I would only keep it in the fridge for about 2 days at the most (this rarely was an issue but if it got to be more than two days, I just threw it in the freezer). If my daughter did not finish a bottle of thawed milk, I would have the sitter put it in the fridge one more time but after heating it up twice, that was it. Even if for no other reason but the taste. I used to make the unfrozen bottles the night before, but I put the one frozen bag in the fridge and by morning, it was thawed enough to put in the bottle. (I used Playtex Nurser bottles and bags so the bags went right into the bottle without transfering the milk. I never thawed the frozen bag in warm water the night before.

I hope all this helps. I think that once you get into the habit of things, you will develop your own system that works best for you. I read some of the other responses that you got and I think splitting the bottles up into 5-6 ounces is a good idea as well. Also, use your own judgement. Would you drink a glass of regular milk if it was sitting out for 4 hours? 8 hours? The breast milk is more sensitive so error on the conservative side.

Don't give up on nursing, it really is best for your baby...and you! Good luck!

Great advice from everyone so far...the only thing that I can add is that I have a tall plastic bowl with a lid at work and a bottle of regular dish soap (I've read that antibacterial soap can ruin plastic after awhile). After pumping, I add a little soap and hot water from the water cooler; take it to the bathroom and give it a good shaking over the sink...the hot water usually pops the lid but I haven't had any accidents yet. Then I rinse with cold water and add some paper towels to catch the excess water. I give it a good scrubbing at home each night. The bathrooms at my office never seem to get hot enough water, that's why the water cooler that has the hot spout works nicely. The Lactation Center at Magee Women's Hospital is a great resource ###-###-####. I've called them lots of times and their answering machine also lists the number for the Allegheny County Help Line that has a lactation consultant on call, which is great if you need someone late at night. Good luck!

1. Save it for the next feeding.
2. Put it in the refrigerator and use it the next day. When your baby wants to drink, s/he won't want to you or the sitter thaw it.
3. It is good for a week as long as you keep it in the fridge.
4. Yes, he is getting enough from the bottle. If he wants more he will let you know.
5. You can wait until you get home to scrub them at night.

I would thaw the big bags in the fridge the day before, then pour out the 5-6 that you need to warm then keep the rest in the fridge for the next feeding. I use the medela freezer bags to hold the milk. I put no more than 5 oz in a bag to avoid wasting it. Some use only 3 oz per bag. Use the oldest milk first. I heard milk was good in the fridge for 24 hrs once thawed. Some say longer but I err on the side of caution. I rinsed my bottles with hot water at work and a quick whisk w/ a bottle brush if time permitted. You should be fine to save the superscrub for the evening. The L.C. at the hospital said sterilze every 24 hrs. I use the microwave bags medela makes. Also RELAX, you'll do fine. If I can do it anyone can. Oh, and if he's gaining weight, he's getting enough. Your ped should let you know. Good luck!

I did pump as well as breastfeeding, and I would do the following....

First of all when you pump out the 9oz, I would seperate them into two bags...one being 5oz or 6oz, and the rest in another bag...It is backup. I did this for the times that I needed it, and didnt have it, and also for when she got older,(I wasnt breastfeeding), and got sick, I would thaw it out and give it to her.Great antibodies!
Second of all, you may not heat breastmilk in the microwave. You can only run it under hot water, and or thaw in fridge.I was unsure what you meant when you said, "thawing".
Once thawed use it within 24 hrs. If fresh use within 48 hours. I think he will drink whatever he can. My daughter never drank anymore than 4 oz at a time in a bottle. I think it is great that he is going that long without feedings. He is fine.
When you pump at work, you may rinse with very hot water and then scrub at night. I also wanted to say that when pumping your breastmilk at work, I would put it in the fridge, but I would give him some fresh, and also thaw some for the next day. If you are pumping now, and give him fresh all the time, even though it is better for him, you will eventually see that you have too much frozen milk, and it could go bad. You should only keep it in the freezer for 3 months, and if you have a deep freezer 6months.

I WOULD NOT THINK THAT BREASTMILK WOULD BE GOOD FOR A WEEK EVEN IF IT IS IN THE FRIDGE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE WEBSIGHT THAT I JUST WENT TO SAID,"IT IS GOOD FOR 8 DAYS IN THE FRIDGE".IT IS NOT PASTURIZED.IT'S LIKE COMING STRAIGHT FROM A COW...SO TO SPEAK. I AM SHOCKED.

Breastmilk is most nutritious the less it is "processed." Therefore the best way to get it is through the breast. If you cant do that, then you can refrigerate the milk for up to 7 days. Frozen breast milk can be kept up to 3-4 months. Once the milk is thawed, however, it should be used within 24 hours. You cannot re-freeze breastmilk.

I would recommend pumping and giving the milk that you pumped the day before to your son the next day. Use your frozen supply as "emergency." Every once in a while, I would throw in a frozen bag just so you can keep your frozen stash "current" so it won't go bad.

Let's take a stab at your "questions"

1. I would not store that much breast milk in one bag. I stored mine in 3 ounce bags. That way, I could unthaw 2 bags, and if my son drank it all and seemed still hungry, I could unthaw the third. (he hardly ever drank more than 6 ounces). More commonly, he'd drink about 5 ounces and I'd be left over one ounce. My lactation consultant said that at the next feeding I could just give him the leftover. She explained that breast milk resists spoilage much more than formula. Fresh breast milk can be stored at room temperature for 4 hours, in the refrigerator for 7 days, and in the freezer for 3-4 months. Unused breastmilk can be given at the next feeding, but should be thrown away after that. Frozen breastmilk will keep up to 24 hours in the fridge. Your caregiver can unthaw the whole bag and give it to the baby as long as he drinks it within 24 hours.

2. I wouldn't thaw it for her. It takes only about 3 minutes to thaw it under hot running water, and what if she doesn't use it all. It would be a waste. But it keeps for 24 hours once thawed.

3. My son was the same way. He never drank more than 6 ounces and was done after 5. He is a fatty. Don't worry, he is getting enough.

4. I think that it should be fine to rinse and scrub, but honestly, I don't know for sure, and I don't want to give you information that I am not sure is accurate. But based on what I know about breast milk and spoilage, I wouldn't think twice about doing that for my son.

You will be fine at work. The first 3 months for me were hell, and my son was 11 months and weaned, drinking out of a cup. But now it is much better. Try not to stress out too much, remember to take it easy, and try to keep the guilt down. You giving him the breast milk is the best gift you could give! It will all be fine, I promise!

Hi V.,
I took a breastfeeding course before I had my daughter and I remember the instructor saying the best way to know how long your own breastmilk would be good for was to pump some, put it in the refrigerator. The next day pump some more and put it in a different container next to the one from the previous day; then smell the one from the previous day. On the third day smell them both. Continue doing this until the first one you pumped smells sour (you'll know this after smelling the two together, the first one will smell different). Count the days between when you pumped the first one and the day it turned sour and you'll know how long you can keep your breastmilk in the refrigerator before it's no good. I never actually tried it because it's not often I have to give my daughter a bottle, but it made perfect sense to me.
Any milk leftover from your 9oz stored milk can be used in the next feeding. And if it's not been contaminated, it could even be used the following day or so (as far out as your milk will keep) so long as it's not been in contact with your baby's mouth or anything else that might introduce bacteria or germs to it.
As you probably figured out from the info given in the first paragraph, you can definitely thaw your milk the day before.
I wouldn't worry about your son taking 5-6oz. That's typically what babies his age eat at one feeding. Plus, he's smart, he'll let you know when he's hungry again:)
You will definitely want to wash your pump parts with hot soapy water after every use. I know that's a pain in the butt, but I'm sure you don't want to risk your baby getting sick.
Try to relax some, you don't want your baby 'catching' your anxiety about going back to work. I only work part time, but when I went back to work my daughter knew something was up. We had a hard time getting her to go to sleep and stay asleep the night before I went back to work.
Best wishes! J.