Frozen Breast Milk and No Power. Help!!

Updated on March 29, 2012
R.C. asks from Jackson, MI
6 answers

Our power has been out for nearly 2 hours. How long will frozen breast milk stay safely frozen?? It's a separate compartment (bottom freezer) and I opened it once to put the milk on top of the ice.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for your responses! Our power came back on after being out for 3 1/2 hours--I'm sure the milk is fine, but I'm going to wait a while yet before I open the freezer to check on it. I had positioned it in such a way that I would be able to tell if it started to thaw, but I'm sure it didn't.
Just a side note--I did call someone from La Leche League and all she was able to tell me was what I already knew--don't refreeze thawed breast milk and use it within 24 hours.

More Answers

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

It should be okay a few more hours but DON'T open the freezer!!

How long will your power be out? Is there a neighbor with power where you can store it for now?

If you're not going to have power for a while (my neighborhood loses power if a bird farts on a Tuesday and the wind is blowing west, trust me, I get the whole no power thing) maybe even try to go to a local pharmacy. When we didn't have power for 4 days and I was nursing, I took my frozen breast milk to CVS pharmacy and they were kind enough to let me store it there!!

Where there's a will, there's a way, good luck :)

4 moms found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

I would be calling around to friends to see if they have power and freezer space. If not then get some blocks of ice and an ice chest or cooler. Contact someone in the La Leche League they should be able to give you better info.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

If left CLOSED, frozen items will remain frozen for 48 hours or so.

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K.H.

answers from Boston on

Oh no! I would definitely call around and see if you can use someone's freezer to store your milk. When I was breastfeeding we lost power due to an ice storm and I immediately starting calling people. I took as much breastmilk as i could fit in a cooler and brought it to my sister's house. I still had to throw some away, but at least I was able to save a lot of it. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

R.:

You should be fine. Just don't open the freezer unnecessarily.

It should be a while - usually about 6 hours if not longer if you leave it closed.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Don't open the freezer door at all and everything should be good for 24 hrs.

1 mom found this helpful
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