How to Thaw Frozen Breast Milk

Breast milk is one of the most complete foods on the planet. It provides your baby with natural antibodies and immunities in a perfectly balanced meal. Studies have shown that breast milk is much better for infants than formula, and might even help keep breastfed babies healthier. Breast milk can be pumped and stored for families that need to bottle feed their babies occasionally. It can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and still retains all of the nutrients of fresh milk. The following guidelines outline the proper thawing procedures.

Instructions

1

Remove your breast milk from the freezer. Keep in mind that breast milk can be safely frozen for four to six months without losing any nutritional value.

2

Place your frozen milk in the sink and run hot water over it. Turn the bag while the water runs over it to thaw the milk evenly. Your milk might take a while to thaw this way depending on the temperature of your faucet.

3

Set a bag of milk in a pan and fill it halfway up with water. Place the pan on the stove. Turn the stove on to medium heat to warm the milk. This is a quicker way to heat your milk than running it under water.

4

Check the temperature of your milk. You do not want to boil the milk, as this will ruin it. Only warm it to body temperature to avoid burning your babys mouth.

5

Feed the thawed milk to your baby immediately. Thawed milk should be fed as soon as possible to avoid spoilage.