Can you unthaw and refreeze breast milk?

Can You Unthaw and Refreeze Breast Milk?
Understanding Breast Milk Storage Guidelines
Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies to infants, and many mothers choose to express and store their milk for convenience. However, when it comes to the delicate process of handling stored breast milk, questions often arise about safety and best practices, particularly regarding unthawing and refreezing.
The Science Behind Freezing Breast Milk
Breast milk can be frozen safely for later use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends storing breast milk in a deep freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or lower, where it can last for up to 12 months. However, the recommended duration for optimal quality is about six months.
When breast milk is frozen, the low temperatures help to preserve its nutritional components and protective antibodies essential for a baby’s health. But what happens when it’s time to use that milk?
Unthawing Breast Milk: The Right Way
When thawing breast milk, it’s crucial to do it safely to maintain its quality. The CDC advises thawing frozen breast milk in the refrigerator, under running warm water, or using a bottle warmer. Microwaving breast milk is not recommended, as it can create hot spots and damage the beneficial properties of the milk.
Once thawed, breast milk should be used within 24 hours if kept in the refrigerator. This timeline is vital as it prevents bacterial growth and ensures the milk remains safe for consumption.
Can You Refreeze Thawed Breast Milk?
The question of whether you can refreeze breast milk after it has been thawed is a contentious one. The CDC and various lactation experts recommend not refreezing thawed breast milk. The reason behind this is primarily safety; once thawed, the milk may have been exposed to bacteria, and refreezing could compromise its quality and safety for the baby.
However, there are exceptions based on circumstances. If a mother has thawed breast milk in the refrigerator (and it has not been left out at room temperature for more than a couple of hours), she may choose to refreeze it. This practice is still generally discouraged, and caution is advised.
Best Practices for Storing and Handling Breast Milk
To ensure the safety of breast milk, consider the following best practices:
1. Label Containers: Always label breast milk containers with the date it was expressed. This helps track freshness and ensures you use the oldest milk first.

2. Use Appropriate Containers: Store milk in BPA-free plastic bottles or bags specifically designed for breast milk storage.

3. Avoid Temperature Fluctuations: Keep the freezer door closed as much as possible to maintain a consistent temperature.
4. Plan Ahead: Thaw only the amount of milk you anticipate using. This reduces waste and ensures your baby gets the freshest milk possible.
Conclusion
In summary, while the idea of unthawing and refreezing breast milk may seem convenient, it is generally discouraged due to safety concerns. Following proper guidelines for thawing and storage not only ensures that your baby receives the highest quality nutrition but also helps to safeguard their health. For new mothers, understanding these practices is critical in navigating the complexities of breast milk storage and use.

Why is it bad to refreeze after thawing?

You can safely refreeze frozen food that has thawed—raw or cooked, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. To safely refreeze, the thawed product must have been kept cold at 40 degrees or below for no more than 3-4 days.

Can I mix 2 frozen breast milk from different days?

According to Verywell Family, it is safe to combine breast milk from different days as long as you follow the proper guidelines. The milk must be stored in clean containers and kept at the same temperature. It is best to cool freshly expressed milk before combining it with older, previously cooled or frozen milk.

Can you refreeze milk after it’s been defrosted?

It’s not advisable to refreeze fully thawed milk. It would be different if there were some ice crystals left but I wouldn’t freeze milk twice.

How to know if breastmilk is spoiled?

It will also smell bad, much like spoiled cow’s milk. And, like spoiled cow’s milk, breast milk that’s old will taste sour. (It’s fine to taste your breast milk to check!) Always label your pumped milk with a time and date so you can tell how old it is.

Why should you not refreeze after thawing?

First of all, the quality of any food is affected when you freeze it for a second time. That’s because slow freezing introduces large ice crystals that damage the cells of the food once it’s thawed — the culprit behind “mushy” meat or fish.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

How many times can you freeze and thaw breast milk?

Use milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator (from the time it is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer). Use thawed milk within 2 hours of bringing to room temperature or warming. Never refreeze thawed milk.

Why can’t you thaw and refreeze breast milk?

Each unfreeze and refreeze provides bacteria the chance to grow and allows for new bacteria to be introduced. It also significantly decreases the nutritional value. So bacteria growth + decreased nutrition = not worth it.

Is frozen milk ok after it thaws?

However, as long as freezing happens on or before the best before date, it is fine to freeze milk and thaw it for later use. The texture of thawed milk may be different from fresh milk, but the solids and liquid usually recombine when a person shakes or blends it.

Why is thawed breast milk only good for 24 hours?

Bacteria can grow rapidly in thawed milk, especially if it’s kept at room temperature or if the storage conditions are not optimal. Using the milk within 24 hours minimizes the risk of bacterial growth and ensures the milk is safe for your baby.