Can you use frozen breast milk after 6 months?

Understanding the Use of Frozen Breast Milk After Six Months
When it comes to the storage and use of frozen breast milk, many parents wonder about the safety and nutritional quality of milk that has been stored for extended periods. Specifically, the question arises: Can you use frozen breast milk after six months?
Storage Guidelines for Breast Milk
According to guidelines from health organizations, breast milk can be stored in the freezer for up to six months for optimal quality. However, it is important to note that while breast milk can technically be stored for longer, the quality may begin to decline. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that while six months is the recommended maximum for best quality, breast milk can remain safe for consumption for up to 12 months if stored properly in a deep freezer.
Nutritional Degradation Over Time
Research indicates that while frozen breast milk does not typically harbor pathogens after six months, there is a potential for nutritional degradation. Studies suggest that after the six-month mark, breast milk may lose about 3% to 10% of its nutrients. This degradation is not drastic, but it is significant enough for parents to consider when deciding whether to use older frozen milk.
Practical Considerations
If you find yourself with frozen breast milk that has been stored for more than six months, it is generally safe to use, but with some caveats. The milk may not be as nutrient-rich as fresher supplies, which could be a concern for parents focused on maximizing their baby’s nutrition. Additionally, the taste and smell of the milk might change over time, which could affect a baby’s willingness to consume it.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can use frozen breast milk after six months, it is advisable to be mindful of the potential loss of nutrients and changes in quality. If the milk has been stored properly and shows no signs of spoilage, it remains a safe option for feeding your baby. Ultimately, parents should weigh the benefits of using older milk against the potential for reduced nutritional value and make decisions based on their individual circumstances and their baby’s needs.

Is breast milk still good after 6 months?

Storing breast milk after expressing
Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

Is frozen breast milk still good after a year?

Breast milk can be stored at 0° F or colder for up to 12 months, although using it within 6 months is best. Count the age of the milk from the first time it was frozen, regardless of when it was moved. Moving frozen breast milk between freezer locations should be done quickly to ensure that the milk stays frozen.

Why can’t you use frozen breastmilk after 6 months?

Keep in mind that research suggests that the longer you store breast milk — whether in the refrigerator or in the freezer — the greater the loss of vitamin C in the milk. It’s also important to note that your breast milk changes to meet your baby’s needs.

Does breastmilk lose nutrients after 6 months?

Vitamin B-6 concentrations in breast milk increase 3- to 4-fold in the first few weeks postpartum, followed by a gradual decline in late lactation (14, 29, 35, 36). After 6 mo, breast milk alone may be insufficient to meet an infant’s vitamin B-6 requirements (1).

How to tell if frozen breast milk is bad?

The milk is likely to have a very distinctive sour smell and may even taste metallic, like soap or bitter. If it smells sour, it is very likely because of the lipase enzyme’s action on the fat content of breast milk.

Is frozen milk safe after 6 months?

How Long Can You Freeze Milk? Milk that has been frozen correctly and stored in a deep freezer is good for about 6-9 months before the flavor begins to change. There’s no hard and fast expiration date, and how fresh your milk was when you froze it will also determine how long it will last in the freezer.

What happens to breastmilk after 12 months in the freezer?

There’s nothing to suggest long-term frozen breastmilk will harbor pathogens, but it seems likely that there is some degradation of nutrients. I will say these figures are small — say, 3 to 10%. Put differently: if you feed your baby milk that has been frozen for 6 months, they might need more.

Is breast milk not enough after 6 months?

Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.

Can I use 10 month old frozen breast milk?

Breastmilk is good for up to 12 months in the freezer. The CDC used to specify different lengths of time for different types of freezers. They changed their recommendations to “best by 6 months, good up to 12 months” regardless of freezer style.

How can you tell if frozen breast milk has gone bad?

Digestive enzymes and other components of breastmilk remain active even when milk is expressed or pumped. Expressed human milk may undergo odor changes when stored. Parents sometimes describe expressed or defrosted milk as smelling odd – metallic, soapy, or even rancid.