Is freshly expressed breast milk considered warm or cool?

Question

I want to express breast milk so my husband can give my daughter a bottle later.

1) Is it OK for yesterday's and today's pumping results to end up in the same bottle for feeding tonight?

2) Is freshly expressed milk warm or cool? Is it safe to add it to yesterday's collection which has been refrigerated? Or do I need for it to "cool" before I add it?

Hmmm.... some conflicting answers here so far. At least about whether and when I can add freshly expressed to refrigerated milk....anyone have a source? Personal experience will have to count too.

Or... can someone explain why it's not a good idea to add freshly expressed milk to refrigerated breast milk that's no more than a day old?

Answer 1

1. It is OK to mix the two pumping sessions into one bottle.

2. Freshly expressed milk is considered warm-it's the perfect temperature for your baby. Yes, it is safe to add it on to a previous collection, no need for cooling-you can just dump it in there and stick it in the fridge.

At least that's what I did and I didn't have any problems. Good luck!

Answer 2

Freshly expressed breast milk is warm, about room temperature, maybe a teeny bit warmer from being in your body. You don't want to keep it out too long though. If it's going to be a few hours between pumping and usage, refrigerate it.

It is ok for yesterday and todays milk to go in the same bottle. You might want to cool it before you add it, but I don't think it matters too much. I used to refrigerate a few of the tiny 4 oz bottles until I got enought to put into a larger bag for the freezer and I never had any problems. Just make sure you show him how to warm it up the correct way.

Thumbs up to you for breast feeding. I did it with both of my kids and they (ages 6 and 3) are NEVER sick or go to the doctors. (and it's cheaper than formula ;) )

Answer 3

Freshly expressed milk is body temperature, so right around 98.6. (Your husband will have the best luck getting your daughter to take the bottle if the milk is right around that temp, btw.)

Breastmilk takes on the flavors of what you eat during the day, so I never mixed two different pumpings together because I was thinking it might make it taste bad (i.e., the sweeter milk after yesterday's breakfast with the high-flavored milk after today's Italian pasta lunch?).

However, I think it's okay to mix them as long as they are at the same temperature. (The refrigerated milk from yesterday shouldn't be mixed with warm fresh milk and then re-chilled. Breastmilk should only be chilled once and warmed once.)

Answer 4

1. yes
2. Freshly expressed milk is considered warm but by the time you mix it with the other milk, it'll probably cool off. Yes it can be added to what's refrigerated - just warm up what's in the fridge and add the fresher batch. Then warm up what you combined.

Answer 5

1. Yes
2. Final temperature of the mix will depends on the amount and temperature of the cool and warm milk mixed. No need to cool the fresh milk prior to the mix.

Answer 6

1. Yes as long as they're mixed together when both are cold.
2. Warm. Safe, yes, but you do need to cool it for at least 2 hours before adding it. Add cool to cool.

Answer 7

1) Yes

2) Freshly expressed is warm. Ideally, you should cool it before adding if you are storing it. If you going to be using it immediately, then mixing warm and cool is fine.