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Breast milk storage: Do's and don'ts
Content
What kind of container should I use to store expressed breast milk?
What's the best way to store expressed breast milk?
Can I add freshly expressed breast milk to already stored milk?
How long does expressed breast milk keep?
How do I thaw frozen breast milk?
Does thawed breast milk smell or look different from fresh breast milk?
How do I thaw frozen breast milk?
Thaw the oldest milk first. Place the frozen container in the refrigerator the night before you intend to use it. You can also gently warm the milk by placing it under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water.
Don't heat a frozen bottle in the microwave or very quickly on the stove. Some parts of the milk might be too hot, and others cold. Also, some research suggests that rapid heating can affect the milk's antibodies.
While further research is needed on whether previously frozen milk that's been thawed can be frozen again and safely used, many experts recommend discarding thawed milk that isn't used within 24 hours.
