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Stock pile of BM that is just sitting in my freezer, what to do?

Kristina - posted on 07/07/2011 ( 7 moms have responded )

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I have an entire tub full of BM in my deep freezer, I stay at home with my children and EBF I pump one breast in the morning because she is normally done after one. I use that milk to add to her cereal in the am. I have recentley learned about dream feedings so i decided to feed my daughter at midnight before I go to bed. She doesn't wake up at all nurses great. By doing this i have noticed that my supply is better and she eats off of both breasts in the morning and throughout the day.
So my question is can I start to use the frozen milk for the cereal by putting it in the fridge the night before to thaw and use what I need form the bag and still be able to use it throughout the day or the next few days for cereal? I know that if i heat it up it needs not to be used. Any advise would be greatly accepted. Thanks and God Bless!

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Jackie - posted on 07/10/2011

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You really are supposed to use it within 24 hours only because it loses SOME of the nutrients. Its not that the milk is going bad. I would not go past 2 days though. Like everyone said it will separate and look like its bad but it is fine. If your concerned smell it..its like anything else, if its bad it will not smell good!

Elizabeth - posted on 07/10/2011

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The info I have from Medela says that milk thawed in the refridge is safe for up to 24 hours.

Annie - posted on 07/10/2011

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Yes, it's fine to use thawed milk, as long it's not been in the freezer longer than 3 months & is used within 2-3 days.

Something to note though, it may start to breakdown naturally on it's own after a while. I found that with my son & I. My milk broke down quite quickly & if it wasn't used/frozen straight away it would start to taste quite bitter & acrid & he wouldn't want it. Of course I didn't find out about that until he'd stopped taking bottle all together!

But if you have that much of a stock pile (ie aren't going to get through it all), you could contact your local hospital & see if they have a milk bank. Southampton (UK) do & they use if for all the premature babies, don't know about the rest of the world though…

Kristina - posted on 07/09/2011

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Thank you Amanda! Exactly what I needed to know

Amanda - posted on 07/09/2011

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Thawing the BM in the fridge and using the next morning for the cereal is a great way to use some of the stored stuff up! As long as you aren't heating it and the unused goes back in the fridge it will keep for several days. Don't refreeze either. It will naturally seperate when it thaws (fat/cream on top more liquid on bottom) so mix well before using.

Kristina - posted on 07/08/2011

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I read about it her on here. My daughter has been pulling away then back on and repeat during the mid hours of the day, so I thought I would try it. I dont know if she is teething, not getting enough or just being funny. lol She has been sleeping thru the night since she was 6 weeks old so I pump before bed at around 12am.
I dont wake her but get her out of crib and nurse her off of both sides. (I have noticed she feeds better then anyother time of day as well) I may have to nudge her some to continue eating and when we are done she stays asleep. After the first night of doing this while she was feeding off one side the other was leaking and that hasn't happened in a long time. She also eats better through out the day.

Lilliana - posted on 07/08/2011

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I'm not sure about the BM in the freezer but tell me about dream feeding!! :)

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