can i offer my 2month baby the breast milk left in the bottle without refrigerating & for how long?

Answer 1

People with no information should not answer questions seeking information. If you want to spout off your opinion there are lots of questions for that.

Regarding re-using breastmilk:

Q: Should breastmilk left over from a feeding be dumped immediately (like formula), or can you save it and give it to baby later?

A: It should be safe to save the left-over milk and use it at the next feeding.

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.

Can I 're-use' pumped breastmilk? Q&A by Ruth Lawrence, MD

"... 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..."

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!"

Brusseau R. Bacterial Analysis of Refrigerated Human Milk Following Infant Feeding. May 1998.

"Summary: The number of infants who are breastfed is on the rise, as is the number of women in the workforce. Many women who choose breastfeeding after returning to work, express milk during the day and store this milk for a future feeding. When infants do not finish a bottle of expressed breastmilk, doctors recommend unfinished portions be thrown away. This study examined bacterial levels in expressed, partially consumed breastmilk that was stored for 48 hours at 4-6° C. A portion of unconsumed milk was examined as a control. Samples were taken every 12 hours for bacterial analysis. Tests were performed to identify total colony counts, pathogenic Staphylococci, coliforms and b-hemolytic Streptococci. This study showed no significant difference between bottles that were partially consumed and those that were not exposed to the baby’s mouth for 5 out of 6 participants. All milk samples had colony counts in the acceptable range of < 105 colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml). Although this project provides evidence that it may be safe to refeed a child a bottle of breastmilk, due to the small sample size, further tests should be performed."

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusing-expressedmilk.html

For more information on safe milk storage:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

Answer 2

Depends on where it was before it was in the bottle, and for how long it was there.

Generally you pump and store in the fridge or freezer. Once you heat up the milk again you trigger the growth of the bacteria that are naturally in everything, causing it to spoil after so much time.

Either way, its generally not a good idea to try to feed a bottle to a baby after the initial feeding is over, especially since its breast milk (which is not pasturized) that wasnt in the fridge.

If it was pumped straight from the breast into the bottle, Ive heard that it's safe for two hours tops out in room temperature, but that after that point you discard it.

The good news is, your boobs just keep making more, so really theres no reason to keep trying to use up whats been pumped into a bottle.

Answer 3

For how long can breastmilk be stored at room temperature?

The answer to this question is relative. Ideally, breastmilk should be consumed within four hours if it is stored at room temperature. If the climate is cold, you could store it for around seven to ten hours, and if it is warm or hot, it is best to consume it within a couple of hours without refrigeration. If breastmilk is not going to be consumed within 4 hours, refrigerate it.


Can unconsumed breastmilk be stored?

If you heat breastmilk and give it to your baby, you can store the unconsumed milk for two hours at the most. If your baby does not consume the leftover milk within this time, discard it.

I agree with the above post by mystic, breastmilk has its own antibacterial properties and is much safer than formula or cows milk for reuse. also kellymom.com is a great site with reliable info

Answer 4

Just nurse her - why take a chance with milk that's been sitting out, when you've got a fresh supply?

Answer 5

I wouldn't either. It could give him stomach cramps and diarrhea, which won't be too fun for you either. I just never liked to take the chance.

Answer 6

under 1 hr.

Answer 7

I wouldnt your child is too precious