How do you freeze frozen breast milk?

Freezing Breast Milk: A Comprehensive Guide
Freezing breast milk is an essential practice for many breastfeeding mothers, allowing them to store their milk for later use while ensuring that it retains its nutritional value. Here’s a detailed look at how to properly freeze breast milk, ensuring safety and quality.
Timing is Key
To maximize the quality of breast milk, it is crucial to freeze it as soon as possible after expressing. Freshly expressed milk retains more nutrients and antibodies compared to milk that has been refrigerated before freezing. If you need to add freshly expressed milk to already frozen milk, make sure to cool the new milk in the refrigerator first before combining it with the frozen batch.
Choosing the Right Containers
When it comes to freezing breast milk, the choice of container is vital. Use sterile, BPA-free containers specifically designed for breast milk storage. Options include breast milk storage bags, glass containers, or hard plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. It’s advisable to freeze milk in small amounts—typically 2 to 4 ounces—to avoid waste and make thawing easier.
Labeling and Dating
Before placing your milk in the freezer, label each container with the date and time of expression. This practice helps you keep track of how long the milk has been stored, ensuring that you use the oldest milk first. Over time, the quality of breast milk can diminish, so adhering to a first-in, first-out system is essential.
Freezing Process
Once you have expressed and stored your milk in the appropriate containers, place them in the coldest part of the freezer. Ideally, the temperature should be at or below -18°C (0°F). Avoid placing milk in the door of the freezer, as the temperature can fluctuate more there due to frequent opening and closing.
Thawing Frozen Breast Milk
When it comes time to use the frozen milk, thaw it safely. The best method is to transfer the container to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight. If you need it more quickly, you can place the container in warm or lukewarm water, or run it under lukewarm water. It’s important to never use a microwave to thaw or heat breast milk, as this can create hot spots that may scald your baby and can also destroy some of the milk’s beneficial properties.
Storage Duration
Frozen breast milk can be stored for up to six months in a standard freezer, although it can last longer in a deep freezer. However, for optimal quality, it is recommended to use it within three months. Always check the milk for any signs of spoilage before feeding it to your baby.
By following these guidelines, mothers can ensure that their frozen breast milk remains safe and nutritious, providing their babies with the best possible start in life.

What are the rules for frozen breast milk?

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.

Can babies drink cold breast milk?

You can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by putting the bottle in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Do not use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk.

How to unfreeze frozen breast milk?

Thawing and Warming Breast Milk
To thaw frozen milk, hold the frozen bottle or bag under lukewarm running water. You can also thaw it in the refrigerator or in a bowl of warm water. Swirl the milk gently to mix. The fatty part of the milk may have separated.

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 to thaw frozen breast milk?

Thawing and Warming Breast Milk
To thaw frozen milk, hold the frozen bottle or bag under lukewarm running water. You can also thaw it in the refrigerator or in a bowl of warm water. Swirl the milk gently to mix. The fatty part of the milk may have separated.

What are the disadvantages of freezing breast milk?

Deep freezer.
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.

Is it better to freeze breast milk in bottles or bags?

A safe start would be freezing it in breast milk storage bags in 2 oz portions. The smaller portions make it easier to thaw exactly what baby needs and reduces wasted milk. This approach does mean you use a lot more storage bags so if that’s a greater concern for you re cost, plastic trash generated, etc.

Can I mix breast milk from different days?

Can I mix fresh breast milk with older breast milk? Mixing freshly expressed breast milk with already cooled or frozen milk is not advised because it can rewarm the older stored milk. It is best to cool freshly expressed milk before combining it with older, previously cooled or frozen milk.

Is it safe to freeze breast milk in Ziploc bags?

Use freezer-safe containers.
Breast milk storage bags can be used for freezer storage but won’t keep milk protected for as long as sealed containers.

What is the best way to freeze breast milk?

Store milk in the back of the freezer or refrigerator, not the door. Freeze milk in small amounts of 2 to 4 ounces to avoid wasting any. When freezing, leave an inch of space at the top of the container; breast milk expands as it freezes.