How long will you keep a partially used bottle of breast milk?

Question

It seems the guidelines are all over the place and they seem different than formula. Some sources say pitch an unfinished bottle, some (like Medela) say it is OK to put a partially used bottle of breast milk back in the fridge. What do you do? How long will you keep a bottle out and in use? When might you put it back in the fridge?

EDIT....I have a bottle with 1 oz left. It's been out for two hours. I thought she might finish it when we got home but she didn't. I stuck it back in the fridge.... I'll smell it first, but I am hating thinking I have to toss an ounce of breast milk...

That's two hours from when she first started eating....

Answer 1

breastmilk has the good live stuff to keep the milk fresh... so even if it has been frozen, thawed, then warmed, it is OK to put it back in the fridge and reheat it once.

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

I totally trust what this website says... it quotes IBCLCs left and right... and Kelly herself is an IBCLC... they have to have a certain number of education credits to maintain their certifications, so they get this updated info regularly.

THERE IS NO HIGHER EDUCATION ON THE TOPIC OF BREASTFEEDING THAN AN IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant.... lactation nurse, lactation specialist - those hospital employees do not have all the required courses and experience that the IBCLCs do - when anyone is looking for real good breastfeeding help - find those initials behind a woman's name!!)
DOCTORS DO NOT KNOW AS MUCH AS THESE WOMEN DO!!!

Medela's advice is good too, as is La Leche League, Lansinoh, Ameda, and a few other resources...

but back in the fridge for less than a day... reuse it for the next feeding if possible.

Answer 2

Everyone has a different answer on this topic.
I know from first hand experience. My son drinks breast milk from a bottle all the time. if he doesnt finish a bottle, and there is an ounce or more left in the bottle, i will stick it back in the fridge. For the next feeding, i will dump that left over amount into a new bottle with a new nipple, and add new breast milk to it.
I will put the used amount back in the fridge asap..when he's done chowin' down on it.. i've kept it out for a few hours or so before, and then put it back. My son has never been sick from it.
They do say that when you pump, you can keep the milk out in room temp. for 5-7 hours or so before sticking it in the fridge. But, once it's been eaten out of, i dont like to leave it out for more then an hour.
Breast milk is liquid gold. Dont wanna toss more then you have to.

Answer 3

I have been a child care provider in my home for 20 years. I have cared for numerous babies who came with expressed breast milk. I am currently caring for my own 4 1/2 month old grandson who is fed expressed breast milk. There are plenty of guidelines out there and each mom has developed their own set of rules for what works best for them. Generally speaking, if the baby does not finish a substantial amount of breast milk (say he falls asleep after eating only an ounce) than I will put it immediately back in the refrigerator for use at the next feeding. Any breast milk left after the second feeding is thrown out. If the baby drinks all but an ounce or so, I generally don't keep that for a second feeding unless the amount of breast milk I have available is dwindling more rapidly than usual. If the bottle is returned to the frig within an hour of the first warming, it can be re-warmed for one more feeding. I have had moms who preferred no second re-warming and I have respected that wish, but I have re-warmed breast milk with absolutely no ill effects on the baby. To avoid too much leftover breast milk, I prefer to warm only 2-4 ounces at a time, depending on the age and normal milk consumption of the baby. The one thing that should not be done is re-freeze milk that has already been thawed.

Answer 4

Studies show that there is no difference between breastmilk and breastmilk that has come in contact with baby's saliva. That's because breastmilk, unlike formula, is a living thing that is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.

However you should try not to heat breastmilk more than twice as certain nutrients will be lost. On the other hand the occasional bottle of sub-optimal breastmilk is much less risky for baby than the occasional bottle of formula.

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

Answer 5

I think I've read 4hrs as the maximum... but I'm sure you'll get different ideas on this. I remember never wanting to toss out breastmilk either, but then my daughter was always a guzzler and never knew when to stop so I didnt need to worry about that. ;-) This would be from time first offered to reoffered, stored in the fridge. Certainly 4hrs sitting on your kitchen counter wouldnt cut it!

Answer 6

If its been in the fridge then warmed up DO NOT put it back in the fridge. If its freshly expressed then the baby drinks half then u can put it in the fridge but definetely not if its come out of the fridge!

You can keep it out of the fridge an hour or so b4 u need to discard it.

Answer 7

once they have drank out of it you have 3 hours. This is in the DCFS guidelines for day care centers.

Answer 8

Till the next feeding.