Thanks Jennifer . I knew about the 24 hours range, so I won't be defrosting a big quantity every time, I'll just deforst maybe 8 oz. during day time then will defrost as needed. I broke a bag by accident and the milk liquified so fast I was amazed, so defrosting when needed won't be a problem. I was only not certain how to warm it.

thanks again.

I wouldn't thaw 8 oz until you know you are going ot use that much. Are you freezing it in 8oz portions?

No...I'm freezing in 2 oz. or a max. of 3 oz. portions per bag.

The reason I said I'd thaw 8 oz. is that 8 oz. is 4 feeds, and baby needs more feeds per day than just 4, and my supply is too low...I think I can only provide her with one feed. I'll still nurse her everytime before giving her a bottle maybe she'd help increase my supply, but I'd like to be prepared in advance.

That is why I asked in what increments you are freezing your milk. Breast milk is easily thawed in warm water so my suggestion is you don't thaw out too much before you need it, so it doesn't go to waste. Also you can always supplement at the breast using a lact-aid whilst stimulating your supply. Instead of supplementing withthe bottle.

Thanks Laurie. I'll take your advice and thaw little amounts every time.

I don't have a lact-aid and they don't sell it in my city. I don't mind bottle feeding though. I'll try to put my baby close enough to me and bottle feed her that it would feel like nursing :-)

I'm discussing all this and I still haven't had the confirmation about the baby yet. Please say a small prayer for me tonight. Tomorrow is a big day for me. The lab test results of the baby girl will be received and then we'll know if she's OK for us to adopt. There's also one last paperwork to be confirmed, also tomorrow. I pray all goes well :-S

Thanks for the advice.

Laurie, one more question please. How long does breast milk survive outside the fridge?

I mean, if I am going out for a couple of hours and want to feed my baby. I'll of course thaw some frozen milk and place it in a bottle for when I need to feed the baby. How long will that milk stay safe for baby to drink?

you can order a lact-aid at www.lact-aid.com breastfeeding is really not the same as bottlefeeding up close so it feels like nursing. The stimulation of the baby suckling your breast is what brings in your milk. Medela also sells a supplemental nurser called the SNS but the lact-aid is preferred more by inducing moms.

breast milk can last up to 10 hours outside the fridge..

Thanks both Laurie and Nona for the replies.

I'll see what I can do about the lact-aid.

Nona I couldn' believe my eyes when I say you typed milk can last up to ten hours outside the fridge. that's just perfect news.

I think 10 hours when it is freshly expressed. Frozen and defrosted, I wouldn't leave it that long without an icepack.
I would carry the bottle with an ice pack to keep it cold.
Jennifer

Oh! OK. I do have an ice pack around, I think I can use that.

Thanks for the warning Jennifer.

I used to fill my lact-aid bags and drop them in a tupperware cup inside the diaper bag with an ice pack beside it and it worked out great.

Thanks Laurie.

can I ask another question. i know I have read the reply somewhere but I cannot remember what it was. Here it is:

When I pump, I keep the milk in a glass bottle in the fridge and add to it over the day then freeze by the end of the day.

Now what if I forgot to freeze the milk by the end of the day? Does that mean it is ruined and I have to throw it away? How long can milk stay good in a fridge before freezing it?

Thanks and sorry for all the trouble.

I believe it is 24 hours it maybe longer. Nona is the expert on that. It should be fine to just go ahead and freeze it in the morning should you forget to do it at the end of the day.

OK. I did freeze it the next day, but I marked the bag till I know for sure it's safe to feed the baby once she's here.

I hope Nona sees that and replies.

Milk can stay in the fridge for up to 5-6 days. It is best to freeze it within 24 hours, but it should be fine if you freeze it within a couple of days.
Jennifer

Really? Thanks jennifer. That's a relief. I would have hated it if I had to throw it a way. Every ounce counts, I have such a low supply now that I freeze every singl drop.

You can keep milk up to 8 days in the fridge after pumping it.

8 days?? WOW...I never thought I could keep it that long. Thank you thank you thank you :-)

But you ideally don't want to leave it that long if you are going to freeze it. If you are going to use it without freezing it, you can store it in the fridge that long.
Jennifer

Yep, exactly what I was going to say. You ideally want to freeze it within 24 hours. If you go a bit over that like you did it will still freeze fine.

Thanks Jennifer and Laurie. Of course I wouldn't leave it in the fridge for that long, but I was relieved that I didn't have to throw it because it stayed for more than 24 hours in the fridge.