How to Thaw Breast Milk

Just as freezing breast milk correctly helps prevent babies from getting sick, thawing it safely also decreases the risk.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Bottles
• Plastic Baby Bottle Liners
• Baby Food/breast Milk Storage Jars

1. Remove bottles or bags of breast milk from the freezer.
2. Check the date labels to make sure the milk is less than four to six months old.
3. Place the milk in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
4. Defrost the milk more quickly by placing the bottle under warm running water for about 30 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Fat sometimes rises to the top of thawed breast milk. Gently shake the bottle to mix it in.
• Microwaving breast milk to defrost it is not recommended. Microwaving can destroy important immune factors in the milk.
• Breast milk should not be refrozen after it has been thawed. Throw out any thawed breast milk that's left over after a feeding.