Frozen breastmilk

[patchesmcp]

So, I have just found 5oz in the freezer, and the date on it is the 2nd August. Do you think it will be ok to use or should I bin it?

Thanks

It lasts for 6 months so I'd use it

What about milk over 6 months old? DD2 was born 7 weeks premature in Feb and I have about 30 bottles of milk in the freezer that I brought home with me from the hospital.

I thought it lasted for 12 months . Do I have to throw it out?

Up to 6 months is ok, but I believe the composition (sp?) of your breastmilk changes to meet the need of the baby at the time which is why it's not keep it too long.

But it's only 5oz so I would use it.

Thanks guys.

He had it today :)

Jollybear - depends on how the milk has been stored. If it's been in a fridge-freezer used daily then probably not. If it's been in a deep freeze opened very infrequently then probably yes. The only way to now if it is still good is to defrost a bottle and see how it is (smell/texture/taste).

oh I thought it was only 3 months in the freezer? good news, I have a small stash!

Details on storage here.

In general though depending on the temp of your freezer and how stable it is (if you go in the freezer several times a day the temp will fluctuate more than a deep freeze in a garage accessed once or twice a month).

Thanks Truthsweet. Mine was stored in the hospital freezer than moved into our freezer which is in our cellar. It is not accessed very often. I'm wondering if mine might be ok then. It said 6-12 months in a deep freeze on that link.

Should I defrost some and have a smell? If off, it is obviously off?

Apparently when it is off, it's obviously rank so perhaps defrost one of the oldest (And smallest) containers and have a sniff. If that's ok then the rest should be ok too.

When I used ebm I always sniff tested each container just in case...

Should say if it tastes ok too!

I can confirm it does indeed smell rank (don't leave it until the next morning before checking the changing bag for left over milk in bottles)

as for the composition changing (ours was defrosted and used after 8 months) at that point milk isn't as important. I just assumed they might not be as satiated, but still better than formula or regular cows milk.

I've just removed some from the freezer and will check for freshness tomorrow. Leaving DD2 with DH tomorrow and she will miss post-lunch feed. I have a carton of formula on standby in case the BM is off. Hope she copes missing a feed, I'm anxious!