Can I reuse breastmilk that has been heated?

Understanding the Safety of Reusing Heated Breast Milk
Breast milk is often hailed as the gold standard for infant nutrition, providing essential nutrients and antibodies that support a baby’s growth and immune system. However, when it comes to the question of reusing breast milk that has been heated, the guidelines are quite strict, primarily due to safety concerns.
The Risks of Bacterial Growth
One of the primary concerns with reusing heated breast milk is the risk of bacterial contamination. When breast milk is warmed, it creates an environment that can encourage the growth of bacteria. According to health experts, once breast milk has been heated, it should ideally be consumed within a short time frame. Specifically, if your baby does not finish a bottle of warmed breast milk, it is generally safe to reuse it within two hours. Beyond this window, the risk of bacterial growth increases significantly, and it is recommended to discard any leftover milk.
Storage Guidelines and Best Practices
The guidelines for breast milk storage are quite clear: any breast milk that has been heated should not be saved for later use. This is to ensure the safety of the baby and to avoid potential health risks associated with bacterial contamination. Experts recommend that once breast milk has been warmed, it should be consumed or discarded within two hours. This means that if your baby only drinks part of a bottle, the remaining milk should not be refrigerated again or reheated.
What About Unused Milk?
If you have pumped breast milk that has not been heated and your baby does not finish it, you can safely store that milk for later use, provided it has not been contaminated. Milk that has been stored in the refrigerator and has not come into contact with your baby’s mouth can be reused for the next feeding. However, once it has been heated, the rules change, and safety must take precedence.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety
In summary, while breast milk is a precious resource for feeding infants, safety should always come first. Heated breast milk should not be reused after the feeding session, and any leftover milk should be discarded after two hours to minimize the risk of bacterial growth. By adhering to these guidelines, parents can ensure that they are providing the safest feeding experience for their little ones.

How long can you keep breast milk after it’s been warmed up?

Warmed breast milk will typically need to be used within two hours of warming it. Finding a reliable, plastic-free storage bottle for your breast milk is critical to safely storing your liquid gold. You can thaw frozen breast milk in the fridge under running or in warm or hot water.

Can you put baby milk back in the fridge after warming?

If it’s been warmed up, just toss it. Warmed up milk cannot go back into the fridge.

Can I put heated milk back in the fridge?

Although it’s not well known, refrigeration can slow the growth of some bacteria. Doctors do not recommend refrigerating heated milk. This is because some of the nutrients inside the milk have been changed by the heat. Mom should always check to see if your milk has spoiled before heating it every time.

Can warmed whole milk be refrigerated again?

Whatever bacteria grew while it warmed up will still be there, and will continue to grow. Refrigeration only slows down the multiplication of bacteria.

Can you rewarm breast milk twice?

Breast milk that has been refrigerated or frozen can only be heated once. Never reheat breast milk as this accumulates bacteria the more it is exposed to warmer temperatures. Breast milk that has been heated or brought to room temperature needs to be consumed within 2 hours.

Can you reuse breast milk after it has been warmed?

Start counting the 24 hours when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer. Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, use it within 2 hours. Never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.

Can you put an unfinished breastmilk bottle back in the fridge?

Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should be used within 2 hours—or, if quickly refrigerated, used for the next feeding. You can always thaw an extra container if needed.

What can I do with leftover reheated breast milk?

If baby eats often then just pop it back in fridge and reheat for the next feed. Or you can set it aside and use it for milk baths. Although there are so many different guidelines out there I will say that it’s up to you what you feel comfortable doing with your baby.

Can you reheat milk that has already been heated?

If heated milk is left sitting in the temperature danger zone, bacteria and other harmful pathogens multiply quickly. You might think that reheating this same milk again above the 60 degrees will kill off any bacteria that may have grown during this time. This is simply not true.

Can you reheat breast milk twice according to the CDC?

Never refreeze or reheat breast milk that’s been thawed, the CDC notes. If you’re not feeding baby immediately, keep defrosted breast milk in the fridge. If you thawed it at room temperature, the milk is good for up to two hours (after that, throw it out).