Feeding baby cold breast milk
Can Babies Drink Cold Breast Milk? Pros And Cons
Cold milk is considered safe unless your baby is premature but talk to your doctor about it.
Image: Shutterstock
Many parents find it convenient to refrigerate breast milk to keep it fresh for later consumption. Many teething babies may also prefer cold milk as it offers relief from pain. However, this raises a common question in the minds of many parents: can babies drink cold milk?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, babies can safely consume cold, warm, or room-temperature milk (1). However, ensure that the milk is not too hot for the baby to avoid scalding.
Can Babies Have Cold Milk?
Image: Shutterstock
Your baby can drink breast milk at room temperature or slightly colder. It does not necessarily need to be warm (1). However, there is no evidence-based research on cold milk consumption by the baby. Hence, you should discuss feeding cold milk to your baby with the baby’s pediatrician and then decide according to the baby’s health status and preference between cold and warm milk.
In order to avoid scalding the baby’s mouth, the temperature of the milk should be tested before the feed. Many babies will happily accept milk that is warm or cold. If your baby prefers only warm milk, you can use bottle warmers that work for bottle-feeding or expressed breastmilk (2).
Related: How To Express Breast Milk By Hand? Advantages & Precautions
Pros Of Giving Baby Cold Breastmilk Or Formula
Here are some pros of feeding cold breast milk or formula milk to your baby (3):
- Feeding the baby with cold milk is easier as heating the milk at a low temperature takes longer.
- Feeding cold milk helps eliminate the risk of overheating the milk, which is not good for the baby, as it may lead to mouth blisters.
- If the baby is used to drinking cold milk, it makes traveling easier. You can directly give expressed milk or bottle feed and need not worry about warming the milk.
Point to consider
Do not microwave breastmilk or formula as it does not heat the milk evenly, leaving hot spots (7).
Image: Shutterstock
Related: 7 Effective Home Remedies To Prevent Baby’s Mouth Ulcers
Cons Of Giving Baby Cold Breastmilk Or Formula
Here are some cons of feeding cold milk to your baby (3):
- If breastfed babies drink warm milk regularly, they may refuse to drink milk from cold bottles.
- Feeding cold milk to a prematurely born baby may not be a good choice. You should warm up the milk before feeding it to the baby.
- Sometimes it may be difficult to mix a bottle of cold breast milk properly because the hindmilk and foremilk may separate.
Related: How To Express Breast Milk By Hand? Advantages & Precautions
1. Can a baby drink cold milk and achieve optimum weight gain?
Milk is the contributing factor to your baby’s weight gain. Also, there is no evidence saying cold milk can reduce weight gain. However, increasing the amount per feed may help a premature infant become healthier as it nourishes the body and increases their fat intake (4).
2. Can babies drink cold milk when they have a cold?
While there’s no evidence of the side effects of babies drinking cold milk during a cold, you should avoid giving them anything cold if it irritates their throat.
3. Can babies drink cold milk in the middle of the night?
While there is no specific evidence suggesting harm, babies may not be receptive to cold milk in the middle of the night. Cold milk may stimulate a baby to awaken more so than warm milk and it is possible that they may not fall back asleep as easily.
4. Can babies drink milk straight from the fridge?
There is no clear evidence that babies cannot drink milk straight from the refrigerator. However, since babies are sensitive and still building their immune system, it is better to feed moderately cool or warm milk or refer to special health advice (3).
5. Can cold milk cause constipation in babies?
There is no evidence that cold milk causes constipation. Usually it is a component of the mother’s diet in the breastmilk that causes a change to bowel habits. Rice and dairy milk can also be culprits when the baby is moving to solid foods. If your breastfed baby is constipated, review your diet to see if you can highight what may be causing the baby to react this way. Constipation in older or non-breastfed babies is usually due to a diet low in fiber, consumption of too much cow’s milk or dehydration. If constipation continues, contact your pediatrician. (5).
6. Does cold milk upset a baby’s stomach?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no need to warm the breast milk before giving it to the baby. You may give it at room temperature or cold. No evidence shows that cold breast milk causes stomach upset in babies (6).
7. How long is cold breast milk good for babies?
You may store expressed breast milk in the refrigerator for up to four days. It can be stored in the freezer for six months. Although it is acceptable to store for 12 months or even more, the quality can be affected (6).
8. How long can cold breast milk sit out?
Newly expressed breast milk can stay out for nearly four hours at room temperature 77°F or colder. You may store it in an insulated cooler with ice for upto 24 hours. Once the cold or frozen breast milk is warmed or brought to room temperature, you should use it within two hours (6).
Babies may have cold or warm milk, depending on how and under what circumstances the milk is given. Although cold milk may not cause any harm to the baby, make sure you mix it well and your baby is healthy enough to drink cold milk. However, if you are feeding your baby expressed breast milk, you need not worry about the temperature since it is naturally a safe moderate warm. If you are still wondering – can babies drink cold milk, you may consult your doctor to know about the safest options for your baby.
Key Pointers
- Most babies can consume warm, slightly cold, or milk at room temperature.
- Cold milk takes less time to prepare, making traveling with a baby easier.
- However, if the foremilk and hindmilk are too cold, they will not mix properly.
References:
MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
- Storage And Preparation Of Breast Milk.
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/preparation-of-breast-milk_H.pdf - Tips For Bottle Feeding Your Baby.
https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/practical-tips/tips-for-bottle-feeding-your-baby - Bottle Feeding Babies: Giving The Bottle.
https://www.babybonus.msf.gov.sg/parentingresources/web/Babies/BabiesNutrition/BabiesBottle_Feeding/Babies_Bottlefeed?_afrLoop=76390886085745155&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D76390886085745155%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf. ctrl-state%3Dscla92fh5_13 - Frequently Asked Questions | Breastfeeding.
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/faq.html - Nutrition Newsletter Constipation Treatment For Infants And Children.
https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/departments/pediatrics/divisions/continuum-of-care/pdf/constipation-treatment-infants-children.pdf - Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk.
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm - Once Baby Arrives – Food Safety for Moms to Be.
https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/once-baby-arrives-food-safety-moms-be
The following two tabs change content below.
- Reviewer
- Author
Spider Bite When Pregnant: Symptoms, Safety, And Treatment
Spider Bite When Pregnant: Symptoms, Safety, And Treatment
Ice Cream When Pregnant: Safety Profile, Nutrition And Side Effects
Ice Cream When Pregnant: Safety Profile, Nutrition And Side Effects
Growth Scan During Pregnancy – Everything You Need To Know
Growth Scan During Pregnancy – Everything You Need To Know
20 Different Causes Of Rashes In Babies And Their Prevention
20 Different Causes Of Rashes In Babies And Their Prevention
Asperger's Syndrome In Babies: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
Asperger's Syndrome In Babies: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
Pneumonia In Pregnancy: Signs, Complications & Treatment
Pneumonia In Pregnancy: Signs, Complications & Treatment
Iron Deficiency Anemia In Babies: 5 Causes And 9 Symptoms
Iron Deficiency Anemia In Babies: 5 Causes And 9 Symptoms
Cough In Babies: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And Prevention
Cough In Babies: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And Prevention
How to Give Massage to a Baby: A step-by-step Guide
How to Give Massage to a Baby: A step-by-step Guide
Can Babies Drink Cold Milk?
Caring for babies means keeping them warm and cozy. While you might enjoy a nice, cold glass of something while doing so, cold bottles just don’t seem to fit into this picture!
So, when you were adding items to your baby wish list, you may have been tempted to include that fancy bottle warmer. After all, who wants to spend precious time in the middle of the night trying to warm up milk?
What if we told you, though, that you might not even need to warm up your baby’s milk? Or that there may even be downsides to warming up your little one’s beverage? Keep reading to get the low down on the temperature of your baby’s bottle!
Believe it or not, yes — babies can drink cold milk. Many parents choose to heat up their baby’s milk, but this is mainly done based on the parent or baby’s preference and not for health reasons. (More info on that to come!)
While breastfed babies will get their breast milk from the breast at body temperature, babies who are formula-fed or are taking a bottle of breast milk can drink the contents slightly warmed, at room temperature, or even cold straight from the fridge.
More important than warming the milk is using the right mixture of safe water and formula when making bottles, and storing the formula or breast milk for your baby appropriately.
Beyond that, they can enjoy their beverages slightly warmed — or straight from the refrigerator, making middle-of-the-night feeds a little easier on you!
Before we get ahead of ourselves though, it’s important to stop and note that you should never feed a baby cow’s milk whether it’s warm or cold.
Cow’s milk is not appropriate for children until they are a year of age, so make sure to stick with formula or breast milk until then! (When the term “milk” is used in this article it refers solely to breast milk or formula.)
Yes, it’s safe to feed your baby cold milk.
In fact, frozen breast milk can be used as a form of pain relief for teething babies! (Got a teething little one and curious how to do this? Simply place your breast milk in an ice cube tray. After it freezes, place the breast milk cube in a mesh feeder for your baby to enjoy!)
While many parents choose to warm their baby’s milk, there may actually be more risks to overheating it than having your baby drink it cold.
Heated milk concerns
The first concern is using the microwave. You should never microwave cold breast milk or formula as this can leave hot spots.
Because microwaves do not heat evenly, even if you test the bottle temperature on your wrist your baby could still get their mouth and esophagus burned by hot milk.
Since the microwave is out, the most common methods for heating breast milk are a bottle warmer or placing the bottle in hot water bath.
However, even when you use a bottle warmer or other heating method to warm your baby’s milk, it’s important to use caution because overheating the milk can destroy the immune building and other nutritional benefits to breast milk.
One study found that bottle warmers, hot water baths, and other warming methods can all cause the breast milk to exceed 80°C (176°F), which is the temperature when many of the beneficial properties disappear. (This is also why microwave heating isn’t recommended; the extreme heat can kill key nutrients quickly. )
If you’re heating your baby’s milk, stick with the lower heat settings on your warmer or a warm water bath instead of using boiling water to avoid overheating.
There’s also storage to think about. Milk that has been warmed should not be heated or reheated.
If your little one has not finished their bottle after 2 hours of it sitting out, it’s best to throw it out. This will prevent milk from spoiling or being exposed to environmental germs.
Cold milk concerns
Despite some potential risks in warming milk, it’s important to note that there is at least one group of infants who may experience health benefit from having their milk warmed. These are premature babies.
An older study showed that while the body temperature of the premature baby was not significantly impacted by the milk temperature, warming the liquid did seem to lead to greater tolerance of the milk or formula.
To give your little one the most encouragement for gaining and growing, you can give bottles with cold milk or formula inside a quick dip in a warm water bath to bring the temperature up to lukewarm.
By this point, you’re probably thinking: So why do some people choose to warm milk when it’s more work to do so?
Again, breast milk directly expressed from the breast is a warm temperature. Babies who spend the majority of their feeding sessions at the breast are used to this warm liquid.
While many adjust quickly to a cold version of breast milk coming from a bottle, some babies are a little more sensitive.
This can mean they don’t want to drink as much cold milk. If you’re struggling with a baby who isn’t feeding well, it is a good idea to experiment with the bottle temperature to see if they have a preference.
Many parents also get concerned about the separation of liquids that can occur when breast milk is cold. This layering is normal, and doesn’t affect the milk quality. In fact, the mixture can usually be combined with a few gentle swirls.
However, if it doesn’t mix well, warming it a bit can help to encourage the layers to mix better.
If you’re still feeling worried or guilty about giving your baby a cold bottle, you can always slowly transition them. Each time you serve up a warm bottle, heat it a little less. You can see how your little one responds over time and find the temperature that works best for both of you.
Most of the time warming your baby’s bottle really comes down to personal preference and not health requirements (unless you have a preemie and the NICU has a close eye on the milk temperature).
If you do decide that you want to warm your breast milk or formula, you’ll want to do it safely. This means not overheating or microwaving it. It also means testing the temperature before offering it to your baby.
So, this just leaves one question for you to answer: Does that fancy bottle warmer make it onto your registry?!?
Feeding with expressed milk | breastfeeding
When can I start breastfeeding my baby with expressed breast milk? How to do it right? Is it worth worrying that the child will confuse the pacifier with the breast? In this article we will answer your questions.
Share this information
When can I start breastfeeding my baby?
If your baby is healthy and breastfeeding well, there is no need to give him expressed milk. For the first four weeks, you work together to start and increase milk production, and your baby also learns to suckle properly at the breast. There is not enough scientific data on this yet, 1 but there is an opinion that bottle feeding in the first month may adversely affect the process of establishing breastfeeding.
However, if the newborn is unable to latch on or suckle for some reason, start expressing milk as soon as possible after delivery. Read more about this in our articles on coping with problems in the first week, breastfeeding premature babies and babies with special needs, and seeking help from your healthcare provider.
How can I feed my baby with expressed breast milk?
There are many expert feeding solutions that allow you to give your baby expressed milk in a variety of ways, depending on your and your baby's needs.
For example, the innovative Calma smart pacifier only lets milk through when the baby creates a vacuum by suckling. This means that when feeding from a bottle, he will make the same movements with his tongue and jaws as when sucking at the breast. 2.3 Calma was developed with the help of breastfeeding experts from the University of Western Australia. When using this pacifier, the baby can suck, swallow, pause and breathe in the same way as when breastfeeding. 4 Preserving natural sucking habits allows baby to transition easily from breast to bottle and back.
In addition, Medela also offers regular bottle teats* in two versions that produce milk at different rates. All Medela* nipples can be placed directly on bottles used for expressing milk, minimizing the risk of spillage.
If you need to feed your baby with expressed milk, but you do not want to bottle feed him until he is learning to breastfeed, you can use a sippy cup* for temporary feeding. The baby will be able to drink milk from such a mug, but you should be careful not to spill the milk. For the first time, it is advisable to feed the child from a drinking cup under the supervision of the attending physician in order to learn how to do it correctly.
If your baby needs to be supplemented with expressed milk in addition to regular breastfeeding, the Supplementary Feeding System (SNS)* can be used. It is equipped with a thin, flexible capillary that can be clipped close to the nipple to give your baby expressed milk while breastfeeding. Thanks to this, the baby suckles the breast for longer, thereby developing sucking skills and stimulating the production of milk from the mother. This can be helpful when there is a shortage of breast milk, as well as when feeding adopted or surrogate children.
If the baby is unable to breastfeed because he is too weak or has a congenital disease, you can use the Special Needs Cup*, which releases milk with gentle pressure, making it suitable for feeding these babies.
How to teach a child to bottle feed?
If breastfeeding is going well and you decide to start bottle feeding your baby with expressed breast milk, follow these guidelines.
Start early and take your time
Don't wait until the first day of work or the first time you leave the house to start bottle feeding your baby. Start accustoming your baby to small portions of expressed milk a couple of weeks before the desired date, calmly and without haste. Gradually build up to one full serving of pumped milk from a bottle.
Choose a time
Ideally, at the first bottle feeding, the baby should be hungry, but not too hungry - in this state, he is as relaxed as possible.
Let others feed
Your baby is used to feeding from your breast, so when you offer him a bottle it can be confusing. The process can go faster if the first time the baby is bottle-fed by someone else while you are not in the room, so that your sight and smell do not embarrass the baby.
Maintain optimal temperature
Your baby will be more willing to eat expressed milk if the temperature is around 37°C, close to body temperature.
Dip the nipple in milk
Try dipping the nipple in expressed milk before offering it to your baby. This way it will taste and smell like your breast milk. Lightly touch the baby's upper lip with the nipple to open the mouth.
Choose the right position for bottle feeding
Feed your baby on demand and keep him reclining during feeding. Never bottle feed your baby when he is lying or sitting, otherwise he may choke. Listen to the wishes of the child - take as many pauses as he needs. You can even try to shift it from one hand to another during feeding.
Be patient
Don't worry if your baby doesn't take the bottle right away - it may take several tries. If he pushes the bottle away or starts crying, calm him down, wait a few minutes and try again. If he still doesn't want to bottle feed, wait a few more minutes and breastfeed him as usual. Repeat the bottle experiment at a different time of day.
How much pumped milk should I give my baby?
All children are different. Research shows that between the ages of one and six months, a baby can consume between 50 and 230 ml of milk per feeding. To start, prepare about 60 ml and observe how much your baby needs - more or less. You will soon realize how much milk he usually eats. Just never force him to finish the cooked portion.
How can I keep my baby safe when bottle feeding?
Always clean and sterilize your pump and bottles according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wash your hands before expressing, pouring milk, and feeding your baby. Follow our instructions for safely storing and thawing your expressed milk.
If breastmilk needs to be warmed, place the bottle or bag in a bowl of warm water or a heater or under running water at a maximum of 37°C. Never heat breast milk in the microwave or on the stove.
Will the baby be able to transition from breast to bottle?
Some mothers worry that if they start bottle feeding too early, the baby will get used to the artificial nipple and not want to breastfeed. Others, on the contrary, are worried that if the child is not immediately accustomed to the bottle, then he will no longer eat from it. In general, in these cases, they say that the child confuses the nipple with the breast.
Experts disagree on whether such confusion is a problem. 1 Without a doubt, it is easier for a baby to suckle milk from a regular bottle with a nipple, which does not require a vacuum, than from the breast, since the milk flows faster, also under the influence of gravity. And some babies really have clear preferences: only the breast or only the nipple. However, many babies are comfortable suckling both the breast and the pacifier.
If you are unable to feed your baby with expressed breast milk, seek help from a lactation consultant or specialist.
Literature
1 Zimmerman E, Thompson K. Clarifying nipple confusion. J. Perinatol. 2015;35(11):895-899. - Zimmerman I., Thompson K., "On the issue of breastfeeding." Zh Perinatol (Journal of Perinatology). 2015;35(11):895-899.
2 Geddes DT et al. Tongue movement and intra-oral vacuum of term infants during breastfeeding and feeding from an experimental teat that released milk under vacuum only. Early Hum Dev . 2012;88(6):443-449. - Geddes D.T. et al., "Language Movements and Oral Vacuum Generation in Term Infants During Breastfeeding and Feeding from an Experimental Vacuum-Delivery Teat". Airlie Hume Dev. 2012;88(6):443-449.
3 Segami Y et al. Perioral movements and sucking pattern during bottle feeding with a novel, experimental teat are similar to breastfeeding. J. Perinatol. 2013;33(4):319-323. - Segami I. et al., "Perioral movements and sucking during bottle feeding with a new experimental nipple are very similar to sucking from the breast." Zh Perinatol (Journal of Perinatology). 2013;33(4):319-323.
4 Sakalidis VS et al. Oxygen saturation and suck-swallow-breathe coordination of term infants during breastfeeding and feeding from a teat releasing milk only with vacuum. Int J Pediatr. 2012;2012:130769. - Sakalidis V. S. et al., "Oxygenation and Coordination of Sucking, Swallowing, and Breathing in the Term Infant During Breastfeeding and Feeding from a Purely Vacuum Teat". Int J Pediatrician 2012;2012:130769.
Read instructions before use. Consult a specialist about possible contraindications.
* RC № ФСЗ 2010/07353 of 07/19/2010
Storage, freezing and thawing of breast milk
Expressed breast milk is the best food for your baby when you are not around. How to store and use breast milk correctly?
Share this information
If you go to work, go to the gym or simply ask your partner to feed your baby and you want to get some sleep yourself, you can express breast milk so that the baby can eat even when you are not around. Most of the beneficial properties are retained in expressed breast milk, so if you are forced to skip breastfeeding, it will be a better replacement than any formula. But an important guarantee of the safety of expressed milk for your baby is hygiene. Read the article to learn how to properly store breast milk.
What is the best way to store breast milk?
Any type of breast milk is better for the baby than formula. But freshly expressed breast milk is better than chilled, and chilled breast milk is better than frozen. The fact is that freshly expressed milk fights bacteria better, it contains more antioxidants, vitamins and fats than chilled or frozen milk 4 .
How long expressed breast milk lasts
Once your breast milk is properly collected in a clean container, you can store it at room temperature, in the refrigerator or in the freezer, depending on how soon you plan to use it. Follow the guidelines below:
Recommendations for storing expressed breast milk (for feeding healthy term babies) 2, 3
Storage location | Room temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | Pre-frozen |
Safe shelf life | Up to four hours Up to six hours for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to three days Up to five days for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to six months Up to nine months for milk expressed under extra clean conditions* | Up to two hours at room temperature Up to 24 hours refrigerated Do not freeze again! |
* "Very clean environment" refers to strict adherence to the instructions in the article on cleaning and sterilizing the Medela 9 breast pump0104 . These instructions for storing and thawing breast milk are guidelines only. For more information, contact a lactation consultant or healthcare professional.
If the baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NIU) or intensive care unit, stricter cleaning and storage guidelines may apply in accordance with the hospital's internal policies.
Before placing expressed milk in the refrigerator or freezer, be sure to mark the bottles or bags with the amount of milk and the date of expression. This will make it easier to manage your pumped milk supply.
Recommendations for feeding expressed breast milk
During storage, breast milk usually separates into layers and the fats (cream) it contains rise to the top. Shake the bottle lightly to mix the layers before giving it to your baby. Strong mixing and shaking can destroy some of the nutritional and protective components of breast milk 5 .
When a baby is fed expressed breast milk from a cup or bottle, bacteria from the mouth naturally enters the milk. Therefore, it is best to throw out all the unfinished milk one to two hours after the first feeding. In order to waste as little expressed milk as possible, it is best to store it in small portions and use just enough for one feeding 2 .
How to Store Breast Milk in the Refrigerator
2, 3Follow the guidelines below to safely store expressed milk in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate breast milk as soon as possible after pumping.
- Store milk in clean BPA-free breast milk bottles or breast milk storage bags. Its long-term effects on the human body are not well understood and manufacturers are now moving away from the use of this chemical in plastic containers and covers.
- After pre-cooling, a small amount of expressed milk can be added to the milk container stored in the refrigerator. Do not add warm breast milk to already chilled milk.
- Store breast milk in the coldest part of the refrigerator, on the back of the shelf above the vegetable drawer. Do not store milk in the refrigerator door where the temperature is not as constant.
How to store breast milk in the freezer
2, 3The following are guidelines for the safe freezing of breast milk.
- Freeze breast milk as soon as possible after pumping.
- After pre-cooling, expressed milk can be added to the already frozen milk container. Do not add warm breast milk to already frozen milk.
- To simplify defrosting and reduce waste, store milk in small portions (less than 60 ml). Once thawed, portions can be mixed.
- Make sure the breast milk container is suitable for freezing: some containers (eg glass bottles) may burst at low temperatures. Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags are ideal for storing frozen breast milk: they are ready to use, cold-resistant and easy to label.
- Do not fill bottles or bags more than 3/4 full as milk expands when frozen.
- Store frozen breast milk in the back of the freezer where the temperature is constant. Do not place it against the walls of freezers with automatic defrosting.
Feeding frozen breast milk
2, 3Follow these guidelines when thawing breast milk to keep it safe for your baby.
- Breast milk can be thawed in the refrigerator, usually takes about 12 hours. You can place the bottle or bag of frozen milk under running warm water (max. 37 °C). Do not thaw breast milk at room temperature.
- Fully thawed breast milk can be stored for up to two hours at room temperature and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Do not thaw or reheat frozen breast milk in a microwave oven or in boiling water. This can negatively affect the nutritional and protective properties of breast milk, and due to uneven heating, the baby can burn.
- If, after defrosting, you left breast milk at room temperature, but did not feed it to the baby within two hours, the milk must be discarded.
- Do not refreeze breast milk.
How to warm up expressed breast milk
2, 3Healthy full-term babies can be given breast milk at room temperature or heated to body temperature. Some children care about the temperature of the milk, while others drink milk at any temperature.
- To warm breast milk, place the bottle or bag in a cup, mug or bowl of warm water for a few minutes until the milk is at body temperature (37°C). You can use a bottle warmer. Do not heat milk above 40°C or microwave it to avoid overheating.
- Slightly shake the milk in the bottle or bag to mix the separated fat (see above). Do not stir or shake the milk too hard.
Why does milk smell strange after storage?
Chilled or thawed breast milk may smell different from fresh
. This is due to the action of lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids, preventing the growth of dangerous bacteria.
Some mothers report that their milk smells rancid or soapy after storage. But if you followed all the recommendations for safe storage given in this article, such milk is absolutely safe 2 .
Storing breastmilk on the road
If you need to transport your breastmilk from work to home or nursery, use the cool bag with ice packs 2 . For more information on pumping and storing breastmilk on the go, see the article on pumping on the go.
Literature
1 US Food & Drug Administration. Using a breast pump. [Internet]. Silver Spring, MD, USA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated 2018 Feb 04; cited 2018 Apr 12] Available from: www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061944.htm. "Instructions for using the breast pump". [Internet] Silver Spring, Maryland, USA: Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated February 4, 2018; cited April 12, 2018] Article referenced: www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061944.htm
3 Eglash,A., Simon,L., & The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. ABM clinical protocol #8: human milk storage information for home use for full-term infants, revised 2017. Breastfeed Med 12, (2017). - Eglash A, Simon L and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, AVM Clinical Protocol #8: Home Storage of Milk for Term Infants 2017 Revision. Brestfeed Med (Breastfeeding Medicine) 12 (2917).
4 Human Milk Banking Association of North America. 2011 Best practice for expressing, storing and handling human milk in hospitals, homes, and child care settings. (HMBANA, Fort Worth, 2011).- North American Breast Milk Banks Association. Fort Worth: SABGM; 2011.
5 García-Lara NR et al. Effect of freezing time on macronutrients and energy content of breastmilk. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2012;7(4):295-301. - Garcia-Lara N.R. et al., "Effect of Freezing Duration on Macronutrients and Energy in Breast Milk". Brestfeeding Honey (Breastfeeding Medicine) . 2012;7(4):295-301.
6 Office on Women’s Health.