can I reheat expressed milk?

[lisi's mum]

I'm trying to introduce a bottle for the dreaded day I go back to work. The last few times have been fine, but today we've got a strike. Do I have to throw all that precious milk away or can I save it and try warming it again later? It was expressed yesterday afternoon and this morning (I never manage to get more than around 2oz at a time...)

thanks
Katie

[maggieruth]

save it!  the best way to reheat EBM is to leave it out to warm because using the microwave can get rid of some of its great antibodies that babies benefit from !

[jbepko]

Expressed milk is good 7 days in the fridge...so save it. EBF is Liquid gold!

[Mia and Lily's Mom]

Well, I am not sure if you are supposed to but we do it all the time.  Just put it back in the fridge once it has cooled down and use it as soon as possible.  I do know you definitely cannot refreeze it if it was frozen.  I agree with you , ebm is more precious than gold and having to get rid of it hurts

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

You can reheat anything once.

I either let it stand for 15 mins to get to room temp or i would sit the bottle or bag in a cup of hot water.

I thought EBM had a rule of 3...3hrs out of fridge, 3hrs in fridge & 3jrs in freezer???

[teezee]

i was just told by poster(s) on this site that ebm is good for up to 8 days in the fridge!  and 10 hrs out after being heated...would never leave it out that long...i always went by 1 hr..

[Chantel03]

reheat it with a cup of hot water is the way to go.  You can also use the hot water to unthaw frozen or just put the frozen milk back in the fridge.  I would pump through out the day, and put it in the fridge at the end of the night I would take the extra and freeze it.  It is good in fridge 7days, and in freezer for a good while.  Also it can be left out for awhile, its not like cows milk.  Good luck to ya.

[deenz]

This from http://www.breastfeeding.com:

"If the milk is warmed up but not used, it is OK to reheat the milk once. But the more you reheat the more you decrease some of the valuable immunologic properties of the milk. Human milk is liquid gold, so we don?t want to throw any more away than we absolutely have to."

It also said something about being careful if it's already been drunk from as baby's saliva gets into the milk... then you could use again if within like half an hour or something.

[jbepko]

I don't remember the source (Medela or  LLL) but here's what I use for EBM (and as a full time pumper I feel very comfortable with these)
1) Fridge 7 days (fresh)
2) Door part of fridge freezer (3 months)
3) very back part of fridge freezer (6 months)
4) Stand alone freezer (12 months)
5) If milk is reheated either standing out or in water, I toss unless going to be used within next 24 hours
6) I will take frozen milk from freezer, place in fridge for 24-48 (until defrosted) and then send to school for use