Breastmilk Question

I always froze 5-6 ounces in a bag since that is the capacity and my boys were voracious. Thaw one bag and then thaw a second for now if the first is not enough--hold it under cool to warm (not hot) running water to thaw it a little faster so you can see if you need more. If you can get an idea from thawing one how much is in it, you can use it to guess how much is in all the other bags or containers. I always highly recommend Lansinoh bags and The First Years milk storage container for the freezer--keeps everything compact and organized and the bags are great.

I heard a tip to freeze breastmilk in ice cube trays. Once frozen, put the cubes in a freezer bag and date it (so you use first pumped first). The ice cubes are about 1 to 1-1/2 ounces, so it would be easier to thaw a little, then a little more if needed.

As far as what to do now, it is best to thaw in the refrigerator. It needs to be consumed within 24 hours. You can use it for two consecutive feedings if it is more than enough for one. I got confirmation (from lactation consultants, my ped, AND kellymom.com) that it is okay to heat breastmilk (with hot water ran over the bag or bottle) twice, so you can let it thaw in hot water to feed baby now, then refrigerate the rest to heat again - but it needs to be used for the NEXT feeding.

Only have a minute, so this will be quick.
Thaw it slowly in water. Do not microwave it or heat it on the stove. Under running tap, warm only, not hot water.
If you freeze it in small quantities, then it will make it easier to not waste any.
If you're baby is still a newbie, then just an ounce per bag. If baby is older, then 2-3oz per bag.
Once it has been thawed, it needs to be consumed within a day or so.
Do not re-freeze.
If you're wondering if it's been "too long", then smell it or take a tiny taste. Breast milk generally smells/tastes sour just like cow's milk does when it turns.

HTH
Email me at kbhotz at yahoo dot com if you have any further questions.

K., mama to
Catherine, 6.5y
Samuel, 3.5y
Mary, 9m

If I remember correctly you thaw it in the refrigerator. Like the day or night before you want to use it, stick it in the refrigerator. You do have to use it all in one serving because you can't stick it back in the fridge or refreeze it. So any unused portion should be thrown away. When I used to freeze breastmilk I would do it in like 2oz. portions. It makes it alot easier to grab what I need so I didn't waste too much.
There is a really cool site that has alot of information on breastfeeding. It is
www.kellymom.com.

I don't know how to thaw and refreeze - in fact i don't think you are supposed to do that for sanitary reasons but I wanted to let you know that there are bottles you can freeze milk in by mothers milkmate. I used them and they were great. They actually have measurements on the side of the bottle and there is a nice storage caddy for the freezer so you can take the oldest ones out first. you can look for it on amazon.com. Hope this helps.

the best way to thaw breast milk is to put it in the refrigerator, then after it is thawed it needs to be used in 24 hours

Check out www.kellymom.com. There are always reliable answers on there.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

I thaw it overnight in the fridge and use within a day. My personal rule is to limit the number of times I open the bag to use it. Usually twice...don't ask me why, that's just my thing.

Hello!
First I would suggest thawing the milk by first running under cool water and gradually add warm water until thawed. It should not be heated in the microwave.

Once thawed, it can be refrigerated, but not refrozen. It can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Hope that helps!!!

If you thaw it out you need to use it within 24 hours. If you heat it up it needs to be used for that feeding. I would do a refrigerator thaw, and then divide it up to use between two feeding is you need. This way you can heat up smaller amounts.

Hope that helps. Feel free to email me if you have more questions.

R.
(who is sitting for the IBCLC exam in 15 days!)

I loved the Lansinoh freezer milk bags. They worked the best for me. Always measure the amount before you pour it in the bag. I usually tried to freeze the amount my daughter ate in a bag without extra. That obviously changed as she got older starting with 2-3 ounces when she was newborn and increasing with her appetite.

For now, if you don't plan to use the entire bag when you thaw it, you need to make sure it doesn't get warm as it thaws. I would always run my bags under slightly warm water while constantly kneading and breaking up the frozen milk so it would thaw while keeping the already thawed milk cool. Once it is mostly thawed (only a few teeny pieces of frozen milk floating around, I would pour what I needed into the bottle, then pour the leftover milk into a milk storage bottle (I used the Medela bottles that I pumped into). Then you can heat up the bottle for feeding while putting the storage bottle in the bag of your fridge so it stays nice and cold. Once it is thawed, it needs to be used within 24 hours.

Good luck!

The best way is to thaw in the fridge. Personally I've rarely done it this way since, in most, cases my husband would need it in a pinch if I wasn't home. I always had him thaw it by putting the bag in a mug of warm water & running lukewarm water over the bag until it thawed.
I freeze in small quantities, 2-3 ounces. This way there is no waste, you can always thaw more if need be. Once you thaw frozen milk you can't re-freeze it, it will however last in the fridge for a day & I think at room temp for 2 hours (don't quote me there!)
I'd suggest for the bags you think you have enough for 2 bottles maybe cut the bag in half, double bag & pop it right back in the freezer. Be sure, of course, to have a nice clean area, knife & hands while dealing with breastmilk and storage! :D