Breast milk provides comprehensive nutrition and immune support, crucial for an infant’s health. Proper handling and storage of expressed breast milk are essential to maintain its quality and safety. Following established guidelines helps preserve the milk’s integrity from expression to consumption.
Understanding the Risks of Re-refrigerating Reheated Milk
Re-refrigerating breast milk after it has been warmed is not recommended due to an increased risk of bacterial growth. When breast milk is warmed, its temperature promotes rapid multiplication of bacteria, especially if partially consumed by an infant. Subsequent cooling slows bacterial growth but does not eliminate existing bacteria. Reheating the milk again could lead to even higher bacterial levels, potentially making it unsafe and diminishing its nutritional value. Treat warmed breast milk as a perishable food.
Best Practices for Breast Milk Storage and Thawing
Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to four hours. For longer periods, refrigerate it at 40°F or colder for up to four days, ideally in the back of the refrigerator. For extended storage, breast milk maintains quality for about six months in a standard freezer and up to twelve months in a deep freezer at 0°F or colder.
Safe thawing methods are essential when preparing frozen breast milk. Thaw it by transferring to the refrigerator overnight, or by holding the container under lukewarm running water. Avoid using a microwave, as it creates uneven heating and hot spots that might burn an infant’s mouth, and can destroy valuable nutrients. Once thawed in the refrigerator, breast milk should be used within 24 hours and never refrozen.
What to Do with Leftover Reheated Breast Milk
Once breast milk has been warmed for a feeding, it should be used within a short, specific timeframe to maintain its safety. If an infant has started feeding from a bottle, any remaining milk should be consumed within one to two hours. This guideline accounts for the potential introduction of bacteria from the infant’s mouth. After this limited window, any leftover warmed breast milk should be discarded, as re-refrigerating or re-warming milk that has already been warmed is not advised due to the increased risk of bacterial proliferation. To minimize waste, warm breast milk in smaller portions that are more likely to be fully consumed.