Using thawed milk

[lrpolo]

Do you think it is OK if I thaw a bottle of my breast milk and then give to my husband to take out with the baby to give to her maybe an hour or so later? (whilst I'm studying at home)

 

[Liquorice]

I would have thought it would be fine, providing it is thawed out shortly before he leaves so that it isn't hanging around for ages in the heat / at room temperature. I think that breast milk is fine in the fridge for 24 hours, so it should be fine for up to an hour or so at room temperature. Carry it in an insulated bag. If your husband will be out longer than an hour, time your defrost so that it is still defrosting when he goes out.

 

[erina320]

Why not let it thaw in the diaper bag? Then it will be fresher even longer and he could heat it in a cup of hot water around feeding time.

 

[southside852]

of course! i would always take my EBM and let it thaw in the diaper bag/bottle bag for the next feeding while we were out and about....

 

[Roachie]

My baby is fed on expressed breast milk so when I take her out, I usually bring a cold bottle in an insulated bag (it is meant to keep the bottle cold for 3 or 4 hours) and then heat it up in a bowl of hot water when needed. I've never had any problems with my little one and the milk.

In relation to defrosting in the diaper bag, my lactation consultant recommends against "slow" defrosting and suggests that I quickly defrost frozen milk in hot water at home and then refrigerate it, so I've always done that. However, she didn't explain why so it may be okay to just let it thaw out, as Erina320 suggests.