How long can I save an unfinished bottle for breastmilk for my baby?

Question

If he does not finish the entire bottle, how long can I save the remaining breastmilk?

Does it make a difference whether it was freshly expressed? Or refridgerator/frozen and then warmed up? How should it be stored if unfinished?

Answer 1

Breastmilk, unlike formula, is antibacterial, antifungal and antibacterial. You can store the milk at room temperature or in the fridge if it is only for a few hours, longer than a few hours I would use a fridge.

Milk that has been frozen has a shorter shelf-life than other milk.

BTW Have no fear - If breastmilk is BAD you WILL KNOW. You can't miss that smell!

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

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How long can I save an unfinished bottle for breastmilk for my baby?
If he does not finish the entire bottle, how long can I save the remaining breastmilk?

Does it make a difference whether it was freshly expressed? Or refridgerator/frozen and then warmed up? How should it be stored if unfinished?

Answer 3

You really shouldn't hang onto it for more than a day or two since it is not pasteurized. The bacteria colonies will grow pretty quickly. . .

If you're gonna save any of it, you should seal it in a bottle and put it in the fridge.

Answer 4

Breast Milk Shelf Life

Answer 5

Reusing Breast Milk

Answer 6

I would toss it out. Especially if it's been reheated, don't save it. It's not safe at this point.

It's frustrating because you pumped for that milk, but there is too much risk of bad milk and bacteria being in the milk.

Answer 7

I pump and freeze for up to 3 months i would not keep it at all. If it has been heated i would unfortunately throw it out i know how painful that can be!!!! Such hard work but hey its better to be safe than sorry!!!

Answer 8

If its reheated its only good for a few hours in the fridge.

If its fresh from the boob its safe for 8 hours out, or 3 days in the fridge.

Answer 9

it can be frozen. i never kept mine for longer than a week.

freshly expressed is the best, but if the babe has to be without you for while...doesn't matter. look at the Laleche league site.

i would not keep leftovers after being warmed up

Answer 10

ewww.