Reheating breastmilk

[mels823]

I've been looking online for answers and have found some, but I am curious as to what you ladies do regarding this issue.

If your baby isn't taking all of the milk you warm up for them, do you put it back in the fridge and reheat it another time? My daughter is not very regular with how much she is eating right now.  Rather than heat up a little at a time, my husband has been heating up a larger amount (not by much, usually just an oz more than needed) and putting the leftover back in the fridge to reheat for next time.  From what I read online there aren't any definite answers but most studies point to it being ok, but some mention the baby contaminating the milk and it should be discarded after the one reheat and use.

How do you ladies handle this situation? It makes me cringe to think of throwing out the milk I am working so hard for! 

[babycaps]

In the NICU, we will reuse milk as long as it has been less than 6hours and only once. We also feed that milk first rather than mixing it in a bottle since it's possible that next bottle may also not get finished. That way no milk is wasted. If you want reputable research, look for what Aloka Patel, MD and Dr. Paula Meier have published.

[nbateman5]

I do the same if she doesn't drink all the breastmilk...back to the fridge and then add more milk for next time. If she doesn't drink all of that bottle I'll pour the rest out so that it doesn't get reused again.

[northernlghts]

Jan 26, 2015 8:53:50 GMT -5 nbateman5 said:

I do the same if she doesn't drink all the breastmilk...back to the fridge and then add more milk for next time. If she doesn't drink all of that bottle I'll pour the rest out so that it doesn't get reused again.

Same

[wicked22]

I've been told and read that once a bottle is warmed to not put it back in the fridge, just leave it out but only up to 6 hours. I'm only comfortable with leaving it out up to four hours then I toss it. Little man has been super good about not leaving much in the bottle so I don't have to worry about it.

[mels823]

Thanks ladies!

[ruemorgan]

I would go with babycaps advice and use the milk within 6 hours

[bennieangel]

I do what babycaps says except I'll go longer than 6 hours if needed (I.e. A bottle daycare sent home partially used from the middle feeding will be the one I reheat at bedtime). We never had any problems & I would smell it / use common sense with my best instincts. I just hate pouring any out!

[birch113]

Right now I don't produce enough for a stash. What I pump is used for the next feeding, so I always leave it on the counter. I would think if you've heated it once, leave it on the counter for the next use rather than refrigerating and reheating.

[2jelplus1]

I was going to start a new thread about this but I think it's close enough to revive this one. If I pump and offer six oz of fresh milk and baby drinks 4, then naps, do I keep other 2oz at room temperature or fridge and then reheat, knowing that she will eat next in another 3 hours?

In general, I would love to see any resources for maximizing nutrients and freshness of expressed milk. I have a refluxy baby who does not eat predictable quantities of milk and I'm only making an oz or two a day more than she needs so I really need help!

[Widget123]

Apr 23, 2015 12:33:18 GMT -5 2jelplus1 said:

I was going to start a new thread about this but I think it's close enough to revive this one. If I pump and offer six oz of fresh milk and baby drinks 4, then naps, do I keep other 2oz at room temperature or fridge and then reheat, knowing that she will eat next in another 3 hours?

In general, I would love to see any resources for maximizing nutrients and freshness of expressed milk. I have a refluxy baby who does not eat predictable quantities of milk and I'm only making an oz or two a day more than she needs so I really need help!

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/reusing-expressedmilk/

opinions seem to be mixed/ inconclusive.  But I've reused unfinished bottles of milk before, both fresh and refrigerated.  I think the key is just making sure it doesn't smell funny or waiting too long to reuse.

[2jelplus1]

Thanks, I read the Kelly mom article and still didn't feel sure what to do. I discovered after traveling that my frozen defrosted milk tastes funky (probably lipase) but smells fine, and then because I was curious I tried the bottom of a bottle LO didn't finish that was pumped at 10p night 1, immediately placed in the fridge, brought to room temperature night 2, 1/2 finished, refrigerated an hour after it left the fridge and then reoffered 7am day 3 and it smelled fine but tasted off. If I had more milk I would chuck them after night feeds but I really can't afford to lose more than an oz or two a day. It seems like holding on to milk overnight is a bad plan so I'm thinking of making smaller bottles. I wish I could get LO more scheduled, sometimes she drinks as much as 7oz and sometimes as little as 2.5oz.

[Widget123]

Apr 23, 2015 19:48:13 GMT -5 2jelplus1 said:

Thanks, I read the Kelly mom article and still didn't feel sure what to do. I discovered after traveling that my frozen defrosted milk tastes funky (probably lipase) but smells fine, and then because I was curious I tried the bottom of a bottle LO didn't finish that was pumped at 10p night 1, immediately placed in the fridge, brought to room temperature night 2, 1/2 finished, refrigerated an hour after it left the fridge and then reoffered 7am day 3 and it smelled fine but tasted off. If I had more milk I would chuck them after night feeds but I really can't afford to lose more than an oz or two a day. It seems like holding on to milk overnight is a bad plan so I'm thinking of making smaller bottles. I wish I could get LO more scheduled, sometimes she drinks as much as 7oz and sometimes as little as 2.5oz.

If you LO still drinks it it might still be okay if it tastes a little different.  I never had to treat milk for excess lipase but I know the process is a huge pain in the butt