If you’re breastfeeding your baby, then you’ll want to take extra care to ensure that your supply of breast milk is as plentiful and safe as possible. Keeping track of how much breast milk your baby has consumed throughout the day can be challenging for new mothers, and if you struggle too, then you’ll want to check out our article on How to Tell If Your Breast Milk Is Bad. You don’t want to spoil the natural goodness of your breast milk by storing it in areas with high levels of moisture or light; instead, keep away from these elements at all costs.
You should also be aware that even if you purchase breast milk from a reliable source, there is still a chance that it could be spoiled by bacteria. Even if you store the bottle properly before using it again tomorrow, there are still many variables involved in its shelf life. The conditions under which the bottle was stored might have encouraged the growth of bacteria or mold inside the container, so if you notice any off odors coming from your supply after letting it sit out for an extended period of time, then it’s time to throw it out.
How Long Does It Take For Breast Milk To Spoil?
All breast milk is not created equally. Some moms have much more nutritious and higher-quality breast milk than others, so the length of time it takes for your breast milk to spoil will vary depending on how nutritious the milk is.
When you’re breastfeeding, you should store your breast milk in a refrigerator or freezer (whichever you prefer) and consume it within a few days of when it was stored, because once your baby has taken all the milk they need from their mother’s supply, they won’t want to drink anymore.
If you’re not breastfeeding your baby, then the lifespan of your breast milk will be longer, but don’t take too long before checking if it’s still good to use. Once the temperature of your container goes up above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, then its shelf life begins to shorten at a rate of about one day per 40 degrees Fahrenheit increase in temperature. So if you keep your storage area at a consistent temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and see that your breast milk has spoiled after about 2 days, then check for mold growth or other signs of contamination as soon as possible.
How Long Till Breast Milk Goes Bad After Warming?
The shelf life of breast milk is not affected by warming. If you are worried that your supply of breast milk has gone bad, then it’s important to note how long it has been since you used the last bottle. If more than two hours have passed since your last use, then it’s time to throw out your breast milk.
When using a bottle warmer, always make sure that the bottle isn’t placed inside the same bag as other food or in the same room as flowers and other plant life. These items will affect the taste and smell of your breast milk, so make sure you store them separately to prevent any issues.
What Happens To Breast Milk If It Gets Too Hot?
This is where the basics of breast milk storage come into play. If you overheat or expose your breast milk to too much light, then it can cause a decrease in the supply of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. For example, if you heat your milk up to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then the levels of fat will start to decrease as well as the calories.
If this starts happening, then it’s time to work on making an ice pack out of those frozen peas that have been languishing in your freezer for months because they were never actually eaten by anyone.
What To Do With Spoiled Breast Milk
If you have any spoiled breast milk, you’ll want to ensure that you dispose of it properly. The safest way to do so is by freezing the breast milk and then throwing it out. If no other means are available, then you can also freeze the milk in plastic containers (as opposed to glass) and dispose of them when they’re no longer needed.
Additionally, make sure that if your child is younger than one year old, then he or she should not be given any breast milk that has been exposed to bacteria for more than four hours. Breast milk has a relatively short shelf life, but when it starts to spoil, the risk of illness increases considerably.
