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using frozen breast milk for when i go back to work

Holly - posted on 02/07/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )

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im starting to build up a stock of frozen breast milk for when i go back to work but im a bit unsure about how to use it would it be ok to take it out of the freezer the night before and leave it in the fridge to thaw then give it to the caregiver in an insulated bag to keep it cool then them warm it up when ready to use?

also could it be offered and if my daughter doesnt want it left at room temp before its offered again after a while?



Thanks!!

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3 Comments

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Anna - posted on 02/07/2009

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I defrost 2 bags of frozen the night before by running it under cold water.  Then I make 3, 5oz bottles and put those in the fridge for tomorrow.  The daycare feeds him on demand because even at 4 months he still doesn't eat on any kind of schedule.  He sometimes eats it all and sometimes doesn't.  If he doesn't eat one of the bottles they save it and offer it first the next day.  They have a little fridge in the room that they keep the milk in.  I also keep a few frozen bags there, just in case.



When we first started I just sent a big bottle of milk and 3 empty bottles and the daycare made them up until they got an idea of how much he would eat at one sitting.  I'm lucky because his teacher breastfed and knows a lot about the milk storage.  It can be left at room temperature and offered again, up to even 8 hours, I think.

April - posted on 02/07/2009

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Hi Holly!

When I had more of a freezer stash, I would take one or two of the bags out of the freezer the night before and put them in a bowl of cold water, and put that in the freezer overnight. This thaws them easier then if they were just in the fridge alone. Once they are thawed, they are good for roughly 24 hours, so I always marked which ones were the previously frozen ones, so I was sure they gave them to her first, or at least that day. For awhile I sent about half frozen/half fresh (now that she is older, she only takes about 6 oz total plus cows milk, so I don't pump as much and mostly send fresh). Anyway, then if the fresh comes back you can use it the next day or whatever.



If you forget to put the frozen in the fridge the night before, you can run it under cold water.



I also send the milk in an insulted bag with ice packs. Then they put them in the fridge of course.



You can talk to your day care provider about what they do if she doesn't want milk or doesn't drink all the milk when it is heated to room temp. Room temp milk is still good for a few hours (fresh is 6, I would do the old smell test if you aren't sure), so I think it is fine for them to try again later, but it might depend on how flexible they are with when you child can eat.



hope this helps!

Olivia - posted on 02/07/2009

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It needs to be used within 24 hours from when it is thawed and can sit for about 2-3 hours after it is heated up before it needs to be tossed.

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