frozen breastmilk?

Amanda - posted on 11/05/2010

It's dangerous to heat-to-boiling the frozen breastmilk. You can lose some vital nutrients by boiling it. Even when pasteurizing, this process requires a double boiler, you don't actually boil the breastmilk but let it warm to a temperature that is safe.

Michelle - posted on 10/31/2010

I heard that putting the bottle of container (whatever its frozen in) into a pot of boiling water and reheating it that way is the best. and microwaving is not good. I did the water and my daughter took to it but i didnt smell it

Amanda - posted on 10/29/2010

From what I've learned, I believe the smell is from the fat in the milk. The safest way to thaw the milk is to run it under warm water, and the easiest way to do this is to make sure your lay your bags flat as they freeze to make it a quick thawing process. I tell my husband even when I'm away to make sure he feeds our son just as often as if I were there feeding him, which is on demand. It's all a learning process and he will learn his way soon enough. Oh, and from what I've read babies usually like the temp to be roughly the same as it is from the breast. Every baby is different though. I know my son can't stand it cold, but he doesn't mind eating cold jar food. Such a picky eater...

Lise - posted on 10/28/2010

I used to put the bag in the sink with warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then toss the defrosted milk in the fridge. My daughter drinks it cold.

Laura - posted on 10/28/2010

ya thankyou brittany for posting that

Brittany - posted on 10/28/2010

Glad I could help! Also, I've never used bags but in bottles I know the fat clumps at the top so to get it to blend without shaking it, you can gently swirl the milk for about 30 seconds (or less if it's warmed) and it's good to go =)

Brittany - posted on 10/28/2010

I am so glad you posted that brittany, i had no idea, and it def changes the way ill be doing things a little!

Brittany - posted on 10/28/2010

FYI: DON'T shake the milk!
http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/s...

I have a bottlewarmer and it just uses the steam to defrost it so it's evenly warmed. You can feed it cold if your baby will take it but for my daughter, anything cold would make her spit up. It's good to put the milk in the fridge from the freezer the night before so they are easier to warm when you need to use them.

Carolyn - posted on 10/28/2010

yeah the milk i use for cereal i never warm it, just defrost it in the fridge and i have milk for atleast 3 bowls of cereal and only warm the portion needed for each feed. basically it just takes a little planning ahead like pulling it out the night or day before for your bottle or cereal needs. thawed milk , regardless of method should be used with in 24 -36 hours of being completely thawed and kept refrigerated :)

Laura - posted on 10/27/2010

thanks for all of the tips i really appreciate it

Renee - posted on 10/27/2010

First off, I lay mine flat in the freezer so it takes less time to unfreeze because it is not as thick (that and it saves room in the freezer) then I take out the amount my husband needs and put it in the fridge the night before and by morning it is a little slushy but that is ok, I then put it in bottles for him and he puts it in the bottle warmer as he needs it (i would recommend a bottle warmer cause then your husband don't have to worry about the temperature as much). I too use some milk for cereal, but I will usually use milk from the night before that I pumped and put in the fridge! One thing I was told is that once you rewarm the milk you have to use it then, you can't put it back in the fridge for later use!

Carolyn - posted on 10/27/2010

you should either defrost the milk in the fridge or under cool water gradually warming it up till the milk is thawed. from what i have read you shouldnt put the frozen milk directly into hot hot water. I use the cool water to warm method if i need to defrost a bag in a pinch and it takes like 3 minutes if you keep moving the milk around, then warm it to breastmilk temp in a bottle. i would definitely start letting your hubby give him a bottle of expressed milk regularly if he doesnt already just to make sure baby will accept food from dad. ( personal experience on this one)

one thing i do ( i have alot of frozen milk ) is i use the oldest milk for his cereals because your breast milk changes to meet babies needs so milk you froze at 3 months may not sustain a baby at 6 or 12 months. may even tast different too. for some reason baby would not drink my august 22nd milk period LOL

Rebekah - posted on 10/27/2010

Just an FYI: There is an enzyme called lipase in SOME mother's milk that, after being frozen, will make the milk taste metallic and your child might refuse it. Both of my children absolutely refused any milk that I'd frozen and no matter what I did they would not drink it... So, not to discourage you, but not all mothers are able to freeze and reheat their breast milk. Here's a few links with information about it:

http://www.babygooroo.com/index.php/2009...

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/lipas...

Amy - posted on 10/27/2010

I run it under hot tap water so that it can be poured into a bottle and then use our bottle warmer to heat it, there is a button on there for frozen milk.

Brittany - posted on 10/27/2010

heat it in hot water NEVER the microwave. i pump every day for rice cereal, and usually pump a little extra so my supply stays solid. I let the water get as hot as it will, fill a cup, and place the frozen milk bag in the cup, after a few minutes i replace the water with more hot water, and after about three rounds and ten minutes its warm, give it a shake to equalize the temperature and its good to go!