How to Defrost Frozen Breastmilk

Expressing your breast milk and storing it in the freezer is a good way to ensure that your baby has a constant supply of food. As you can store breast milk in the freezer for up to six months, your baby can benefit from breast milk nourishment even when you are away or unable to breast feed yourself. Ensure that you use the correct procedures to defrost frozen milk, as incorrect thawing methods can destroy nutrients, cause bacterial contamination and endanger your baby's health.

Instructions

1

Place the frozen milk in the refrigerator for four hours to defrost. Do not thaw the milk at room temperature, in the microwave oven or on the stove. Thawing breast milk at room temperature can encourage bacterial proliferation, while microwaving and stove heating will cause loss of nutrients and anti-bodies.

2

Place the bottle or bag containing the breast milk in a bowl of warm water for three minutes, once it has fully defrosted -- babies do not like cold milk. You can also hold the breast milk container under warm tap water.

3

Feed your baby the defrosted breast milk immediately. Discard partially drunk portions of breast milk, as it is contaminated with your baby's saliva and unsafe for freezer storage or for consumption later.