So is kellymom gospel?

[ChipsnCheese]

Hello. Quite a few MNers refer to KellyMom website for BF guidance. This link was posted yesterday or the day before (funny how BF round the clock scuppers your concept of time): www.kellymom.com/store/freehandouts/milkstorage01.pdf

I'd like to stick this on the fridge as it covers everything we need to know about expressed milk. But it's different to other guidance - eg storage times differ on NHS guidance and on the frozen milk bag packet.

Do we believe KellyMom above all others?
thanks!

Sorry - link not a link: www.kellymom.com/store/freehandouts/milkstorage01.pdf

Kelly is a very highly qualified infant feeding specialist. However, some guidance (certainly including some of the NHS's) is based on a variety of evidence and "just what has been done". Kelly's info is always backed up with supporting evidence so if you're not sure you can cross reference that.

How far do they differ? It's pretty easy to tell whether expressed milk is ok though just by smelling, or if necessary tasting it. We all know what sour milk tastes like :)

Thanks. Yes, I'm sure it's common sense, but a couple of egs....
Kellymom = fresh milk can be stored in fridge for 8 days
NHS = 5 days.

Kellymom = fefrosted milk ca be stpred for 24 hrs
NHS = should be used straight away.

Ahem - typos:
Kellymom = fefrosted milk ca be stpred for 24 hrs

should read: Kellymom = defrosted milk can be stored for 24 hrs

ooooops

OK, I would generally recommend about 5 days in the fridge, but defrosted milk within 24 hours :)

So I would perhaps do a trial with your milk, express some and keep it in the fridge, covered at the back, and check it after 3-4 days and every day thereafter to see when it sours. Then maybe take a day off that for safety and use that as your personal benchmark.

Or, just freeze it straight away and don't bother worrying about it :)

Thank you! Am feeling particularly sour after a night of 20 minute naps. Good advice, thanks.

The BfN leaflet on expressing and storing also say's 8 days in the fridge and 12hours for defosted milk.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BFNExpressing&Storing.pdf

this is a grea leaflet which also has little treare off sections for sticking to your fridge. It's probably one of the one's I hand out the most.

I think that the 5 or 8 days thing is a bit suck it and see - I have a feeling it depends on the fridge, the individual etc. I know I used to work on 6 or 7 days in my fridge when I was expressing.

And for me personally, my milk wouldn't last longer than 4 days despite having a good fridge, so again, guidance is just guidance.

Kellymom is backed up by research and experience so you can always check what they say.

8 days does sound a long time but is probably true. What I do know is that my DD would not drink milk that was off. BM does last a lot longer than cows milk and it can feel a bit weird if that's your only experience of how long milk 'should' keep.

Yeah. I was very pleased when DS2 was born that I'd be able to get BM into my CMP intolerant 6YO (at the time) again, and sadly I skuppered it at the first hurdle when I gave him a cup of EBM that I'd not used for the baby, and which had soured. He has refused to touch it since :(

One thing to note about frozen milk is that milk frozen quickly (ie clearly fresh when frozen) can defrost tasting sour or soapy. It's fine, and some babies will accept it (others won't) but it's caused by an excess of lipase. Scalding the milk before freezing should solve this if it's an issue for you.