EBM question

[marlowho]

If EBM has been in the refrigerator (say, overnight-or sometime within the 8 day timeframe)- how long can it last at room temp?   From the La Leche website, the only research I found was on freshly expressed milk.  Or does the 10 hrs. also apply to refrigerated milk?
And how 'bout an unfinished bottle?   If she only takes 2 oz. and then is ready for the rest 1 hr. later, is that ok. or does she need refrigerated milk?

[Carter'sMama]

Our local Health Unit gives out a booklet on Breastfeeding and it has a lot of info.  It says:

1) Do NOT leave breastmilk out of refrigerator for more than 1 and a half hours (whether freshly expressed or a few days old)

2) Fresh unfrozen breastmilk can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days

3) Frozen breastmilk that has been thawed can be kept in the fridge for 24 hours

4) Do not refreeze breast milk once it is thawed

5) Throw away any breast milk that your baby does not drink after each feeding

** I was told by a lactation consultant that after your baby has drank out of a bottle it is still good up to 1hr after.  But then you need to throw it out because the bacteria build up.  So, you can't use it later that day or the next once they have had a drink out of it.  Also, if you are unsure of whether or not it is good you could do what Tracy recommends and try it yourself  :lol:   I personally have not done this, can't bring myself to!  So, I just follow the guidelines to be safe!!
Hope this helps!

[annamum]

I found at kellymom.com  that fresh milk can stay in a fridge for up to  8 days, but they don't mention how long it can stay in room temperature after you take it out of fridge.
Freshly expressed milk can stay:

 :arrow: in a warm room 79°F / 25°C  :arrow:  4-6 hours
 :arrow: room temperature 66-72°F / 19-22°C  :arrow:  10 hours
 :arrow: in a refrigerator (fresh milk) 32-39°F / 0-4°C  :arrow:  8 days
 :arrow: in a refrigerator (thawed milk) 32-39°F / 0-4°C  :arrow:  24 hours

Also

If my baby doesn't finish a bottle of pumped breast milk can I save it for later? by Jan Barger, R.N., M.A., IBCLC

"...Based on this study, which admittedly needs to be done on a larger scale, it would seem to me that expressed breast milk, fed to the baby, partially consumed, and then refrigerated, could be used for one more feeding no more than four hours later. That's probably fairly conservative. One of the best tests of whether the milk is spoiled is to do what you do with cow's milk: Smell it and taste it!"

[sfmama]

Hey,
if your girl only takes 2 oz at a time, best to warm up only 2 oz initially. If she eats it really fast and seems hungry -- warm up a bit more, but the idea is that once the milk has been chilled, it loses its anti-microbial characteristics and you should not keep it at room temeperature for more than an hour. (In contrast, fresh milk has the ability of staying pure for several hours -- which means, if you are engorged at night, you can pump and leave the milk by the bed, while you go back to sleep).
In addition, once the baby has sucked on the nipple, saliva has gotten into the milk and has started contamination processes - hence, pediatricians recommend that you do not try to offer milk second time. Now, some lctation consultants say you can get away with it if you immediately chill and then warm up again and use soon -- but in this case it is simply easier and safer to be warming up small amounts at a time.  Last, while you can taste a funly smell if the milk has gone sour in the fridge, you CAN NOT taste if it has been contaminated after it's been warmed up out of the fridge.

[lovingabby]

I am haing a colonoscopy and am not breastfeeing for a few hours because I think the medicines they give you beforehand (laxatives) coudl possibley be passed on. Anyway, my problem is, I took the frozen EBM out of the freezer a few hours ago, and will probably not use it within the 24 hours. It will be close (like 36 hours?) I did not know when I took it out :-(     Is it ok?  Thanks,
Suzanne

[annamum]

Eliz,

Did you put it immediately in a fridge or was it thawing in a room temperature? If it was thawing in a room temperature I would dump it. However, previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has finished thawing. It takes up to 12 hours for frozen milk to thaw in a fridge.

[lovingabby]

Monika,
It has been in the fridge since I took it out and is still frozen partially. That was important to note - that it is 24 hours AFTER it has been thawed.  Thanks so much.
Suzanne