> I would advise
> putting it back in the refrigerator and using it at the next feeding within
> a reasonable period of time, say 4 hours.  I'm fairly comfortable that this
> is safe because years ago when I was an NICU nurse we would hang previously
> frozen breastmilk for continuous gavage feedings for 6-8 hours at room
> temperature--for little-bitty sick preemies.  If it was okay to do this
> with preemies, I have a hard time believing that your big ol' healthy
> breastfed baby is going to have a problem with milk that has been warmed
> and reused."


Becky,

The one difference between what went on in the NICU with continuous
gavage feedings and bottle feeding breastmilk, is that the saliva mixes
with the bottlefeeding breastmilk.  This does make a difference.  The
saliva begins to break down the milk and the bacteria count will
increase.

Assunta Osterholt, IBCLC