Safe Thawing of Breastmilk

According to the CDC, please find below recommendations for the safe unthawing of breastmilk.

• Always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember first in, first out. Over time, the quality of breast milk can decrease.

• There are several ways to thaw your breast milk:

  • In the refrigerator overnight.

  • Set in a container of warm or lukewarm water.

  • Under lukewarm running water.

• Never thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. Microwaving can destroy nutrients in breast milk and create hot spots, which can burn a baby’s mouth.

• 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).

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

• Never refreeze breast milk once it has been thawed.