Hello, I'm Dr. Emily, a pediatrician with over 15 years of experience working with infants and young children. I specialize in breastfeeding and infant nutrition, so I'm happy to address your question about **refrigerating breast milk after heating it up.**

The short answer is **no, you should not refrigerate breast milk after heating it up.** Here's why:

* Safety: When you heat breast milk, you're essentially creating a breeding ground for bacteria. As the milk cools down, bacteria can multiply rapidly, potentially making your baby sick.
* Nutritional Value: Heating breast milk can break down some of the essential nutrients and antibodies that make it so beneficial for your baby.
* Taste: Heated breast milk can develop an off-taste or smell, which your baby may not find appealing.

What to do with heated breast milk:

* Use it immediately: The best practice is to use heated breast milk immediately after warming it.
* Discard any unused milk: Do not save any remaining heated milk for later.
* Don't reheat: Once breast milk has been heated, do not reheat it.

Storing breast milk:

* Freshly expressed milk: Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours. However, this is only recommended if you're confident that the temperature is below 77°F (25°C).
* Refrigerated milk: Refrigerated breast milk can be stored for up to 4 days in the back of the refrigerator, where the temperature is consistently below 40°F (4°C).
* Frozen milk: Frozen breast milk can be stored for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Tips for warming breast milk:

* Warm water bath: This is the safest and most gentle method. Place the bottle or container of breast milk in a bowl of warm water.
* Under running water: Hold the bottle or container under lukewarm running water.
* Bottle warmer: Use a bottle warmer according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Important Note: Always check the temperature of the breast milk before giving it to your baby. It should feel warm to the touch, but not hot.

Remember: It's always best to consult with your pediatrician or a lactation consultant for personalized advice about breast milk storage and feeding practices. They can provide you with specific guidance based on your individual circumstances and your baby's needs.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
read more >>

If your baby doesn't finish a bottle of freshly pumped or refrigerated milk, you can offer it to the baby again at the next feeding. ... Some mothers choose to leave the milk at room temperature and others prefer to refrigerate and re-warm. Personally, I would discard any milk left after a feeding after 4 hours.read more >>