What happens if you refreeze thawed breast milk?

The Risks of Refreezing Thawed Breast Milk
Breast milk is often hailed as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, packed with essential nutrients and antibodies. However, the handling and storage of breast milk require careful attention, particularly when it comes to thawing and refreezing. The question of whether it is safe to refreeze thawed breast milk is a common concern among breastfeeding parents.
Understanding the Thawing Process
When breast milk is thawed, it undergoes significant changes. The process of thawing activates bacteria that may have been dormant while the milk was frozen. Once thawed, the milk should ideally be used within a specific timeframe—typically within 24 hours if kept in the refrigerator. If the milk has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours, it should be discarded to prevent the risk of bacterial growth.
The Dangers of Refreezing
Refreezing thawed breast milk is generally discouraged due to the potential for bacterial contamination. When breast milk is thawed, even if it remains cold to the touch, it can still enter the temperature danger zone (between 40°F and 140°F), where bacteria can multiply rapidly. This means that even if the milk appears safe, it may harbor harmful bacteria that could pose a risk to an infant’s health.
Moreover, the process of refreezing can damage the milk’s nutritional quality. Thawing and refreezing can alter the proteins and other beneficial components in breast milk, diminishing its effectiveness as a source of nutrition for infants. While some studies suggest that partially thawed milk with ice crystals can be refrozen without significant risk, fully thawed milk should not be refrozen.
Best Practices for Breast Milk Storage
To minimize waste and ensure the safety of breast milk, parents are advised to store it in smaller portions. This way, if only a small amount is needed for a feeding, the rest can remain frozen for future use. If thawed milk is not used, it should be discarded rather than refrozen.
In summary, while the idea of refreezing thawed breast milk may seem convenient, the potential health risks and nutritional losses make it a practice best avoided. Parents should prioritize the safety and well-being of their infants by adhering to recommended storage guidelines and using thawed milk promptly.

What to do if baby drinks spoiled breast milk?

If your baby has had spoiled breast milk, they’ll likely let you know. They may throw up, or have an upset stomach, diarrhea or fever. It’s important to call your pediatrician if you think your baby may be sick from having spoiled breast milk.

Can I refreeze breast milk after thawing in the fridge?

Sadly, breast milk must be used within 24 hours of thawing, and it can never be refrozen. The milk is high in sugar and bacteria — left out, the milk becomes a bacteria soup. It could give the baby life-threatening diarrhea.

Can you freeze breast milk after unfreezing?

If you’re thawing frozen breast milk, follow these guidelines for how long the milk can be safely used. Remember: Thawed breast milk cannot be re-frozen.

How long is thawed frozen breastmilk good?

Using thawed breastmilk
Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours. Milk thawed to room temperature or warmer should ideally be used in 1 to 2 hours. If your baby didn’t finish the bottle, the leftover breastmilk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is done feeding.

How do you know if breast milk is bad after freezing?

Do a lipase test on your stored breastmilk! The sooner you do this the better! Thaw a frozen bag of breastmilk to see if it has a soapy or metallic smell/taste. Try feeding it to your baby and see if they drink it.

What happens if a baby drinks spoiled breast milk?

They may throw up, or have an upset stomach, diarrhea or fever.

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.

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.

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.

How long can breast milk stay in fridge once defrosted?

24 hours
Once fully thawed, previously frozen breast milk may be kept at room temperature for a maximum of two hours or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Don’t thaw or heat frozen breast milk in a microwave or in boiling water.