Heating breastmilk?

[WeasieG]

Can I, or should I, heat breastmilk [that's been pumped & refrigerated for a day or so]?

Right now I pump, then refrigerate it. Within a day or so, I warm it up by putting it in a DB's bottle, and putting that bottle into an Avent bottlewarmer (it just surrounds the bottle with warming water).
But I read that heating bm may kill the good white cells in it.... What is right, what do i do?

Thanks!!!

[C99]

I think there's a difference between warming EBM to room temp and *heating* it. I always just stuck the bottle of EBM into a mug of warm water for about 60 seconds; that warms it up to about or just above room temp, which makes it drinkable for an infant but doesn't kill off all the good stuff.

[MarisaSF]

pp beat me to it, but I jsut wanted to add CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of your little one!!

yep, just warm a bit -- either in bottlewarmer or under running tap, or in mug of warm water (we microwaved water in a mug to warm it, then put bottle in mug for a bit). Just don't microwave/boil the EBM.

[WeasieG]

Thank you for the tips! :)

[Rachels]

Even if you were to scald it (as women with excess lipase need to do), enough of the good stuff survives that it's still much healthier than formula for your baby. It does remove some of the beneficial cells and antibodies, but lots survive, too.

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02
New baby coming in October!


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!