Can You Reheat Breast Milk? How To Tell If It Is Bad?
In the last article, I mentioned how I would pump at night while taking care of my second child, a beautiful baby girl.
The thing is, I was also returning to the workforce when I had her, so I had to pump and freeze breast milk for later and reheat it when my little one needed it. So, yes! You can use reheated breast milk to a certain extent.
But it helps to know how much to heat and store it. It also pays to know when it goes bad and how to minimize spoilage. Let’s jump into the details!
Table of Contents
Can You Reheat Breast Milk? And Why Do So?
Yes, you can safely reheat breast milk for your baby. It’s important to follow proper guidelines to ensure its quality and safety.
I had to reheat breast milk a few times around my baby’s 7-8 month mark because I resumed working and had to travel frequently. It becomes necessary when
- Like me, you may have stored it in the freezer, and it needs to thaw faster to room temperature.
- Sometimes, even when you remove it from the fridge, it may be still too cold to give to your baby.
Also Read: Can You Go 8 Hours Without Pumping?
How to Reheat Breast Milk Safely?
From talking to my mom and aunts, I learned it is good to be gentle with how you heat breast milk. Because there is simply no reason to be boiling or overheating breast milk, destroying nutrients!
The safest way to bring it to room temperature is to thaw it in warm water.1
Golden rule: Do not reheat breast milk directly.
Here’s how to do it safely:
- Heat some water to a warm or lukewarm temperature.
- Place your breast milk in warm water. Let it reach room temperature. That’s about it!
- You can also place your stored breast milk under warm to lukewarm running water.
- And a bonus if you have bottle warmers: just place your bottle in it to quickly warm your breast milk. Bottle warmers are handy, especially when your baby is utterly “hangry.”
Also, give it a good mix and a swirl before you use it! Because sometimes, the watery portion of the milk can separate from the fat into two layers.
Mums, please do not reheat breast milk in the microwave.
Microwaving works on a heating mechanism that can cause extreme hot spots. It can even burn your baby’s mouth and destroy vital nutrients in breast milk!
Can You Reheat Breast Milk Multiple Times?
Yes, you can reheat it once, maybe twice. Any more than that, you risk giving your baby spoiled breast milk while also losing its nutritional value.
A few mothers also asked me if they could keep the warmed breast milk in the fridge again if their baby did not finish the whole portion. This depends on the duration it remains at room temperature.
- Once you thaw the milk and it is out for 2 hours or more, do not refreeze or refrigerate it because bacteria can enter the milk during these temperature fluctuations, causing contamination.
- So, try using reheated breast milk within a few hours.
The CDC also gives clear recommendations for storing breast milk.
How To Tell If Breast Milk Is Bad?
You know, I’ve had six children. And throughout the six pregnancies, I’ve gained a fair bit of knowledge about motherhood. It’s been quite a journey, dear mums! And I keep learning even today.
Now, during my 3rd pregnancy, I learned that breast milk’s color, smell, and taste vary from mother to mother and during different lactation stages.
Reheating breast milk can also cause changes in color and smell, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate spoilage. So then, how do you find out?
1) The Fat Does Not Mix At All
We know that the fat in breast milk can separate from the rest, causing it to rise to the top while the watery portion stays at the bottom.2
You can fix this with a quick swirl that mixes them well. But if you notice that it stays well separated even after you give it a good mix, it may mean the milk is spoiled.
2) It Feels Unbearably Rancid
As a mother, you know the smell and taste of your breast milk. So, whenever you notice an intolerable smell or sour taste that is unusual, do not use it.
Mums! This is not the same as high-lipase milk,3 which can smell fishy, soapy, or metallic.
High-lipase milk does not mean your breast milk is spoiled. But your baby might fuss about the smell or taste. Try masking the flavor with other foods or sweeteners if your baby refuses them!
3) Curdling
Breast milk curdles when it is out too long or if you overheat it.
When milk curdles, it switches from a liquid consistency to a more solid state, with lumpy masses scattered throughout the milk. So, if you notice this, keep this milk away from your baby.
How to Store Breast Milk Properly?
I’ve learned4 that you can store expressed breast milk in the following ways:
- At room temperature for about 4 hours
- In the fridge for about four days
- In the freezer for about six or more months
But once thawed, use it within 2 hours, even if you refrigerate it again.
What Containers Should You Use for Storage?
I stored my breast milk in:
- Small and clean BPA-free storage bags meant for breast milk or
- Sterilized glass or BPA-free containers with tight-fitted lids5
When I store breast milk in two bags or more, I label them with dates so that everyone in the family knows to reheat the oldest one first (FIFO).6
- Also, I store breast milk at the back of the fridge or in the freezer for maximum, uninterrupted cooling.
- And when I travel, I carry my breast milk bag in a cooler filled with ice packs. I later transfer it to an available freezer or fridge.
How Much Breast Milk to Store in One Bag?
To reduce your waste, store breast milk meant only for one feeding in one bag or container.
- You do not want to thaw a large bag of breast milk and watch your child drink less than a little in one feeding!
Conclusion on Breast Milk Storage Tips
Dear mommas, while you should not let your liquid gold go to waste, keep in mind to check for spoilage before feeding it to your infant or newborn. Store it well in containers meant for breast milk under cooling or freezing temperatures.
And remember! The gentler you reheat breast milk, the more its nutrients stay intact. So, always thaw it in warm water and never heat it directly on the stove or microwave.
Additional Resources
Whenever I have crucial doubts about breastfeeding, pumping, or storing breast milk, I go to the CDC website. For minor questions, there’s always Google!
Also, for breast milk storage bags, I would recommend these two options:
- Nuliie Breastmilk Storage Bags – I love that they provide a tear-off portion to pour your breast milk out without spilling.
- Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags – These smaller bags save space and reduce waste!
References and Footnotes:
- https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm ↩︎
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/breast-pumps/breast-milk-gone-bad ↩︎
- https://itsmyleche.com/blogs/news/high-lipase-breast-milk-keep-that-milk-mama-heres-what-to-do ↩︎
- https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm ↩︎
- https://www.webmd.com/baby/is-it-safe-to-reuse-breast-milk ↩︎
- https://www.statefoodsafety.com/Resources/Resources/april-cartoon-first-in-first-out-fifo ↩︎