Thawed Breastmilk Separating?

Is this his first time getting a bottle? Many breastfed babies resist transitioning to a bottle after being fed exclusively directly from the breast. If that is the case, then there are many reasons why they reject it and equally as many options for working through the resistence.

However, if your baby has taken a bottle in the past no problem, then it could be issues with the milk itself. Breastmilk should be thawed overnight in the fridge or under warm running water. Breastmilk should NEVER be shaken, you should only swirl it to combine the foremilk & hindmilk. It should combine fairly well if warmed just beyond room temperature.

Another issue could be the recent introduction to cereal. Babies will often cut back on their milk intake when solids are introduced.

The important thing is not to stress yourself out over this. You will work through this, it just may take some figuring out!

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what is your method of thawing? hopefully not the microwave. the best way to thaw breastmilk is to hold the bag underneath warm/hot water from the tap. it shouldn't separate much. hope that helps.

rah

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You should check the Medela website. Some women produce higher levels of a certain "chemical" that can sour when frozen and thawed. But I think you just boil the milk (and then let cool of course) before serving. I remember reading about it on the site and it could help you. Good luck!

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Please RE-READ Tera, Jennifer C. and Melissa's advice to you. All three of them are spot on with why your milk is separating, keeping your supply going, etc. Try not to thaw your bottles the night before. Breastmilk thaws very quickly under WARM tap water, but should only be left thawed for 24 hours, so when you thaw it at night it "expires" faster. It takes me 10 minutes to defrost and prepare my son's bottles in the morning. Again, don't shake the milk, swirl it. The grainy appearance will only happen sometimes. Don't worry about it, it's still fine as long as it hasn't been in the back of your freezer for over 6 months, and as long as you didn't acciendally boil it while defrosting it under water that was too hot. Do not use boiling water to defrost breastmilk! WARM TAP WATER is best. Of course never microwave it. Keep up the good work. Keep stocking your freezer with milk, as much as possible, because you'll need it! Before you know it your baby will be taking the defrosted milk like a champ! Call the Pump Station with these types of questions. They'll answer all of your questions by phone.

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Hi E.,

I think the frozen breast milk just tastes differently. Maybe it has freezer burn? My 2 children never took bottles, although with my daughter (1st child), I did have an abundant supply of frozen breast milk that was thrown away because she had no interest in it whatsoever. Not even when I mixed it with her food. Perhaps you might want to try mixing his cereals with fresh pumped milk that is kept in the fridge and never frozen. Use that fresh milk for him to take to daycare for his bottles, and let him enjoy the loving, secure time with you when he breastfeeds. Maybe he's ready for other different types of baby foods while he's away from you? I breastfed until both of my children were 15 months. The only reason I stopped was because I had to have back surgery while my daughter was little and with my son, I had to leave town unexpectedly. No matter how much solid foods they eat, while a mommy is still nursing, that is the most comforting time a child can have and it's also a nice way for them to ease teething pain, and to relax enough to fall asleep :) Just make whatever adjustments you need and know that the breastmilk doesn't have to be frozen. You sound ,like you use it up fast enough. Here are some general guidelines to store breastmilk:

At room temperature (less than 77°F) for 4 to 8 hours
At the back of a refrigerator for 3 to 8 days
At the back of a freezer for up to 3 months

*And remember never to heat breastmilk in the microwave as it doesn't heat consistently all the way through, leaving hot spots that can burn your baby. The microwave also destroys valuable proteins in the breastmilk.

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