Best way to heat up EBM?

[Maria2007]

Just a brief question. I've heard somewhere recently that microwaving EBM in order to heat it up & offer in a bottle is actually not the best way to do it. After months of using this method (what can I say... it's by far the easiest way) I'm a bit alarmed by hearing this. In particular, what I found a bit alarming is the idea that microwaving may mean some of the antibodies (or whatever else) in the EBM will not survive the microwave blast? Could that possibly be true? Just to add, I'm talking about fresh (less than 24 hours-old) milk, not frozen EBM which I very very seldom use.

I always heat my EBF bottles by standing them in a large pyrex measuring cup of hot water. Can take a while (depending on how cold bottle is) and helps to change water every few minutes or so esp. if bottle is frozen.

"kellymom mentions it here...www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html"

hope this helps

I've always stood in a bowl of hot water. At night we use an electric bottle warmer, as easier/less liable to cause burns!

Microwaves aren't ideal, I was also told never to shake the milk vigorously as it can alter the proteins adversely.

I agree with the other posters, its what I do

Electric bottle warmers (and / or bowls of water) take aaaaaaaaages though I always do shake the milk vigorously, not because of what you say Qally, but because that way I'm sure there are no 'hot' bits, as microwaved stuff is never uniformly warm, it's sometimes warmer in some places than it is in others...

oops now I read the kellymom thing & it seems that shaking is questionable too ... Oh well, ho hum, one cannot be perfect I suppose

A bottle warmer which is a steamer like this one here works a lot faster than conventional bottle warmers. You do have to explain carefully to people how to use it though, I have had people put in far too much water or none at all

We have a steamer kind. They work really well.

I have always used hot water, but the bottle warmers sound the easiest.

Wouldn't use a microwave - have been warned off them as it heats the milk unevenly and can cause not just "warmer" spots, but actual hot spots which can burn a baby's mouth.

Oh my goodness I'd never heard that before about not shaking breast milk. Ops !!!!! We always shake my very vigorously as it separates when it's been sate there too long. I can't believe I didn't know this

Helen, I never knew about the shaking thing either until I had ds4, and all the other boys had their fair share of "shaken not stirred" EBM! They are all very healthy now!

I've microwaved mine - 15 secs per 4oz, then stir it around to eliminate hot spots and mix the cream back in.

It's probably not that great for antibodies but proteins like abs don't denature that easily, and A only has EBM a couple times a week so if it's not quite as good as fresh it's not going to have that much impact on him.