If you can respond tonight (20 March) - how long can I keep thawed breastmilk...?

[chocciechip]

DD has been refusing to feed but will take a bottle of EBM. She has previously been exclusively breastfed. Recently refusing to feed on left side at all - so just back from Doctors this afternoon for a check-up to see if her ears are infected. All clear. Its not her teeth.

She has had a long history of tummy problems and we have a paed appointment for 31 March to check into it.

But tonight has just had one of the worst melt downs I have ever seen. Pure pain screaming for well over an hour ( I've only ever heard this level just after her 3rd batch of immunisations - but that lasted a couple of minutes). This followed the smallest poo ever, so we think its her tummy again.

I gave her a bottle of milk which she sucked at half heartedly and has now fallen asleep. Half the bottle remains. I struggle to express enough for one feed in a day, so wanted to know if I could keep this half bottle to give her later tonight if she wakes up.

Would be very grateful for quick responses.

.. and if I can, how do I keep it and can I re-warm it?

You can keep thawed breast milk refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Not quite sure how that works if you've already heated it etc. sorry, I hope someone else will be along soon who knows for sure.

I hope your appointment next week goes well, poor mite.

I think it is ok to reheat EBM once more and feed it to your DD later today, see kelly mom[[
kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/reusing-expressedmilk/]]

24 hours, if refridgerated

It depends on how it was defrosted. If you did it in the fridge, you can use it for up to 12 hours after it was defrosted. If it was defrosted at room temperature, it should be used immediately and any unused milk thrown away. For future reference, the Breadtfeeding Network do a handy downloadable booklet on thus subject, "expressing and storing breastmilk": www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/leaflets-and-publications.html

And no need to reheat, you can use straight from fridge, or run it under a warm tap.