Thawing Breast Milk

Why am I spreading the word on this? Because these days, moms seem to be focused on stock-piling the freezer for when it's time to return to work. But, its important to be aware of how to safely thaw breast milk.

When you are staring into the freezer to pull a bottle out to thaw, remember to always chose the stored milk that's been in the freezer the longest. Breast milk can lose quality over time, so choosing the milk that's been stored the longest will ensure the freshest milk is used.

A safe and reliable way to thaw milk is a "cold thaw". This is ideal when you have 24 hours to place the frozen bottle in the fridge to defrost. Another tip is to run the bottle under warm water before feeding, or place it into a dish of warm water to thaw out. Remember to never thaw or heat your breast milk using the microwave. A good rule of thumb is to use your milk within two hours of it thawing.

If you've never given those expressed oral syringes of colostrum to your baby, this is the time! Try to give those before they have been frozen for two months.

For new moms who bring their pre-delivery, frozen expressed breast milk to the hospital, it may be a helpful idea to give that to your newborn on the first or second night. This is something your lactation consultant can help you with! 

What questions do you have about thawing breast milk?