Save my frozen breastmilk supply

[Kittycaz]

Hello, I have a 8 week old son and from 2nd week I've been pumping once a day to get a good frozen supply incase of emergencies. I can't pump more than once as my DS refuses a dummy so uses me for comfort and food but I don't mind. My freezer needs defrosting as DH left freezer door partly open for I think an hour so it's now all frozen inside and am struggling to pull draws out. I'm wondering how to save my frozen milk if u have any advice. Is there a product or anything anyone has used to stop defrosting. Don't wanna lose my back up supply x

Oh no OP!

Do you have a cool bag and any frozen cool blocks - that should keep the milk frozen for a while especially if you put it in a cool room. Might be long enough to allow you to sort the freezer?

Alternatively any neighbours you could ask to store the milk just while you sort the freezer?

Cool bag with ice blocks or bags of ice cubes to keep them cool.

@minipie I only moved here last week so I think it will be awkward to introduce myself to my neighbours by asking to store my breastmilk 😂 I've got a cool cube thing I don't have a cool bag will pop out to get one and a ton of ice.
How long does it normally take to defrost a freezer? I normally unplug it over night but want to unplug it for the minimum amount of time so can get my breastmilk back in x

I'm sure it's not advised but I used to speed things up using a hairdryer. Just make sure no water can drip in it.

Or I've heard putting a bowl of boiling water in the freezer can help melt the ice too

@dementedpixie ooo the bowl of hot water sounds like a good idea. Ive got 3 days left of food in freezer so gonna defrost it in 3 days time so I've got time to prepare just put some ice cube trays in freezer x

You can order a styrofoam box and dry ice online which will keep it frozen for days if need be.

Have you no friends near by who could store it for you? I wouldn't risk storing it in a cool box.

You can also donate milk in your freezer for premature babies! Hearts milk bank have info. I ended up throwing out breast milk from the freezer and wish I had done this!

@Foxglovers thanks I didn't even know I can donate my milk. Once my LOs feeds settle down will see about donating the leftover stuff.

I've brought freeze lock bags from lake land and a few packs of frozen peas and ice. Gonna defrost the freezer today using boiling water and prey that it stays frozen for a couple of hours x