Can I Leave Thawed Breast Milk At Room Temperature

Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer it should be used within 2 hours.

Can i leave thawed breast milk at room temperature.

It can be stored in the refrigerator freezer insulated bag and even at room temperature. Don t leave frozen breast milk to defrost at room temperature. Breast milk can be defrosted in the fridge normally in around 12 hours. If the milk has been previously frozen once thawed it can sit out at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.

Thaw slowly in the refrigerator this takes about 12 hours try putting it in the fridge the night before you need it. In contrast formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors. You can also thaw it by putting it in the fridge for about 12 hours. Breast milk can safely stand at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours and need not be discarded if the first feeding attempt is incomplete.

Alternatively hold the bottle or bag of frozen milk under warm running water a maximum of 37 c or 99 f. Once defrosted you can warm up your breast milk and use it immediately leave it out at room temperature for up to four hours or place it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Leave the milk in the warm water for 1 2 minutes until breast milk reaches desired temperature. With clean hands pout breast milk into a bottle or if it s already in a bottle screw on the.

Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. And never use a microwave to thaw frozen breast milk. In fact pumped breast milk can sit out at room temperature for longer than infant formula and other foods before becoming unsafe for your baby but parents and caregivers should still familiarize themselves with safe storage guidance. You should not thaw frozen breast milk at room temperature.

Thawed milk only keeps in the fridge for about 24 hours so don t leave it in there longer than that caution. However it s optimal to use or properly store the breast milk within four hours especially if the room is. Do not use the microwave or place your breast milk in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Don t thaw breast milk by leaving it out at room temperature because that can allow harmful bacteria to grow.

How long you can safely keep expressed breast milk depends on the storage method. Consider these general guidelines for healthy infants. Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator this means from the time it is no longer frozen or completely thawed not from the time when you took it out of the freezer. For quicker thawing hold container under running water start cool and gradually increase temperature.