can you restore breastmilk after baby has drank from the bottle and how long can it be stored?
2006-12-05 06:49:24 · 8 answers · asked by Gracie 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Different people will give you different answers on this one. You need to keep in mind the differences between formula and breastmilk when answering this. Breastmilk is a live substance, like blood! The antibodies in breastmilk are the key to why it is considered OK to reuse by many professionals.
Some people will say that if baby drank from it and didn't finish, you need to toss it.
Others say that the antibodies in the breastmilk make it safe to wait a while before either feeding or tossing. Because pumped milk is a prescious commodity, I tend to fall into this camp.
Per Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Profession by Ruth Lawrence, MD (p. 438):
"Breastmilk can safely stand at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours and need not be discarded if the first feeding attempt is incomplete. In contrast, formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors."
AND.....
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!"
2006-12-05 07:07:13 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They say your not suppose too, once the babys mouth touches the bottle bacteria can start to develop. But I dont know, if I pump a bottle for my daughter I only give her maybe 4 oz at a time, then if she wants more I poor it into the bottle. Kind of like a little at a time, that way theres no waste. Theres no need in making a big bottle then her only drinking half. Maybe try a little at a time. There have been times where we've been out to dinner or shopping and shes taken a little of the bottle then a little more maybe 30 min or an hour later....Shes always been fine with that and no problems
2006-12-05 15:41:09 · answer #2 · answered by Danielle 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Babies saliva can introduce bacteria into a bottle. You can't rerefrigerate breastmilk after it has been heated and the baby has drank part of it. I would say that if the bottle isn't drank within the hour then it should be discarded.
2006-12-05 14:55:01 · answer #3 · answered by angelbaby4912 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No you can't restore breast milk after baby drank from the bottle - dump it. It can be stored 12 hours at room temp, 48 hours at 4degrees, up to 6 months at -20 degrees.
2006-12-05 15:32:43 · answer #4 · answered by chicchick 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I've read you can safely re-offer an unfinished bottle of EBM within 4hrs if it's been refrigerated... I would think that is a fairly conservative figure. My girl usually finished the few bottles she was given, lol...
2006-12-05 18:56:43 · answer #5 · answered by MaPetiteHippopotame 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was told breast milk is good setting out for 4 hours if it has not been that long then put it in the fridge (up to 4 days) and just reuse
2006-12-05 14:51:51 · answer #6 · answered by JustAsk'n 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, if baby already drank from that bottle but didnt finish then you need to throw it away.
2006-12-05 14:52:03 · answer #7 · answered by Jenni C 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, it can lead to health problems - mainly illness - for the baby.
2006-12-05 14:57:00 · answer #8 · answered by Hermes711 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋