BM question: frozen to fridge?

ginanddavid

How long can I keep BM in the fridge once I take it out of the freezer? I had a bag in the freezer at my mom and dad's, brought it home last night, it started to defrost, so i just stuck it back in the fridge. how long is it good there for? and if i pumped 2 more bags at my parents but never froze it, just kept it in the fridge, it's good for 8 days, right? So Friday it should still be good?

TIA... I thought if i took it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge, it was good for 8 days, however, i read this online:

Thawed breast milk can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours, but it should not be refrozen.

SO is it good only for 24 hours from last night when I took it out of the freezer to transport it home?

SageBeginnings

Hey there -

 

Generally, breastmilk is good in the freezer for 3-6 months and in the fridge for 3-5 days. Breastmilk, because of the easily soluble fats, leukocytes, and high sugar content, tends to break down faster than regular milk. 

But, as it was already frozen, as it starts to thaw, the leukocytes can begin breaking down and loosing their antibiotic properties faster, so yes, your milk is good for 24 hours from the time you take it out of the freezer.  

Such a bummer, though, since it is hard to see breastmilk 'go to waste', yes?

SageBeginnings

BTW, I LOVE your picture - sooo cute!

SigmundsGirl

This is what I found: "To thaw breastmilk, put it in the refrigerator overnight. It can then be stored there and used within the next 24 to 48 hours."

Karey08

I only give it 24hrs after thawing too - I'm probably overly cautious with it though, I'll only give it a few days in the fridge before I'll throw it out.

cali_girl92504

Karey08:

I only give it 24hrs after thawing too - I'm probably overly cautious with it though, I'll only give it a few days in the fridge before I'll throw it out.

You can freeze it if you don't use it from the fridge. I only let it sit in the fridge for 2 or 3 days tops and if it doesn't get used I freeze it and pump more for the fridge stash.

Everything I've read has said to use thawed milk within 24 hours.

Karey08

cali_girl92504:

Karey08:

I only give it 24hrs after thawing too - I'm probably overly cautious with it though, I'll only give it a few days in the fridge before I'll throw it out.

You can freeze it if you don't use it from the fridge. I only let it sit in the fridge for 2 or 3 days tops and if it doesn't get used I freeze it and pump more for the fridge stash.

Everything I've read has said to use thawed milk within 24 hours.

I have a probably crazy little routine, I don't know why I freeze so much - Evan eats off only one side for first morning feeding and i pump 6oz off the other.  Four of that goes directly into the freezer and the other two goes into the fridge to be used for mixing with cereal.  The extra two is what I will toss out the leftovers of if it is not all used within a couple days, so it isn't too much going to waste but not enough to freeze on it's own, usually an ounce or less.