Why cant you use frozen breastmilk after 6 months?

Understanding the Limitations of Frozen Breast Milk
Breastfeeding is a vital aspect of infant nutrition, and many parents choose to express and freeze breast milk for later use. However, guidelines suggest that frozen breast milk should ideally be used within six months to ensure its safety and nutritional quality. This recommendation stems from several factors related to the preservation of breast milk’s properties over time.
Nutritional Degradation Over Time
One of the primary concerns with using frozen breast milk after six months is nutritional degradation. While breast milk is known for its rich composition of vitamins, antibodies, and essential fatty acids, studies indicate that these nutrients can diminish over time when stored in a freezer. Although breast milk can be safely frozen for up to nine months in some cases, the optimal window for maintaining its nutritional integrity is generally considered to be within the first six months.
Safety and Pathogen Concerns
Another critical aspect is the safety of the milk. While there is no strong evidence to suggest that frozen breast milk harbors pathogens after six months, the risk of bacterial growth increases as the milk ages. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that while lipases in human milk can break down triglycerides even in frozen conditions, leading to changes in taste, this does not necessarily indicate a safety issue. However, the longer the milk is stored, the more challenging it becomes to guarantee that it remains free from any potential contaminants.
Practical Recommendations
For parents managing a frozen supply of breast milk, the general advice is to label and date each container clearly. This practice helps ensure that the oldest milk is used first, minimizing the risk of using milk that has been stored for too long. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of proper storage techniques to maintain the quality of expressed breast milk.
In conclusion, while frozen breast milk can be a convenient option for feeding infants, adhering to the six-month guideline is crucial for ensuring that the milk retains its nutritional value and safety. Parents are encouraged to monitor their frozen supplies and use the oldest milk first to provide the best for their little ones.

Why did my frozen breastmilk go bad?

As the breastmilk sits in cool temperatures (fridge or freezer), the lipase starts to break down the fat in the milk. The longer it sits, the more you may start to notice the soapy or metallic smell/taste.

Can you use frozen breastmilk after 6 months?

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.

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.

Does freezing breast milk destroy antibodies?

Remember to label the breast milk with the date that you pumped it. Thaw milk in the refrigerator or in warm water just before feeding. Thawed milk must be used within 24 hours. Note: freezing breastmilk destroys some of its antibodies.

How long does it take for bacteria to grow in breast milk?

At room temperature, mature milk from term mothers could be stored for 6 h without a significant increase in bacterial counts. Term colostrum could be stored for 12 h without significant bacterial growth. Preterm milk could be stored for 4 hr.

Can bacteria grow in frozen breast milk?

Results: Significant declines in bacterial colony counts were seen from 2 to 12 weeks freezer storage for all bacteria. There were no differences in colony counts between freezer types. Once thawed, no further bacterial growth occurred. Conclusions: Short-term freezer storage for 12 weeks resulted bacterial killing.

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.

Does breast milk lose nutritional value after 6 months?

After 6 mo, breast milk alone may be insufficient to meet an infant’s vitamin B-6 requirements (1).

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.

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.