What to do if your breast milk thaws!

[@yamairad1]

As a person who lived through several hurricanes and power outages. DON'T OPEN YOUR FREEZER if there's a power outage. That thing stays frozen many many hours after. Most people would have the power back before there is even an issue. Also, keep freezer packs all over the freezer. They keep cold for hours extending the amount of time your food would stay frozen. Keep extra around the milk if you are so worried.

[@brookecaudill9392]

Also keep your most important things to the center. The outter items will slowly melt but keep the innermost items colder longer. Florida girl here, hurricane central. And try your best to keep a generator if possible!! Also water bottles can be ice packs too if you don't have money for the actual like cool packs :)

[@1ARGS2020]

Wish I knew this last week when my dang toddler managed to turn the fridge/freezer level down.

[@mamanursetina]

Nooooooo

[@AngelaSmith_1970]

Gurrrl 😅 I’m helping to take care of my 19mo granddaughter and it’s been 25yrs since I’ve had toddlers and I knew I was right, I’m 53, almost 54, they suck every last iota of energy from us adults that take care of them 😂 but my philosophy about having my kids when I was younger didn’t quite work out the way I planned, but not to fret, talking to y’all with toddlers or teenagers or gfb both and talking to myself now too, we got this y’all, I’m not entirely sure how we’re gonna do it, but we’ll get there and so will our little ones 🥰 with love and support and some strength and patience we may not have known we possessed, love y’all 🥰✊🏽

[@JuMiKu]

Yeah! 😢Two months ago we had an outage and threw it all away, after giving baby a milk bath... On the plus side, it gave baby even better skin than usual. 😊

[@amyh3381]

My kids are grown and I STILL felt this womans pain. 😢

[@classicalgas8297]

We put Gallon containers full of water in our freezer, so if the power goes out, it will keep the freezer cold giving us extra time with an outage. Plus, that water is also there for an emergency! It would be great if you told the woman this!🤗

[@GiveUaKnuckleSandwhich]

Yes...if you have a dang freezer big enough to hold food...milk...AND gallons of water.

[@jess_bounce]

@@GiveUaKnuckleSandwhich we have a deep freezer in the basement in addition to our normal freezer and we are always running out of room 😂

[@dana102083]

​@@jess_bouncelol most peoples deep.freezers are jammed packed..that doesnt count unless you have twoooo lmaoo 😊

[@queenizzy01]

@@GiveUaKnuckleSandwhichthe gallon ziplock bags lay flat them you can move them around however you want. They’re not freezing gallon jugs in the freezer

[@GiveUaKnuckleSandwhich]

@@queenizzy01 that's an awesome idea!!!!

[@harmonicaveronica]

You can also ask neighbors for help! I've seen it happen on my local Buy Nothing group - a bunch of people lost power, but not everyone. Someone asked if any neighbors with power had extra freezer space to store the milk, and they were able to move it and keep it frozen!

[@Bananas904]

Yes! We have a "sound offs" in several Facebook groups for people with power and freezer space to speak up and get in touch with people who don't. Comes in handy after big storms in areas where some powerlines are buried but not all.

[@familyoffour247]

That's so sweet!

[@Shadowkat0326]

I fell asleep while pumping one time and accidentally dropped about an ounce and a half of milk, which for my low supply, was a considerable amount. I sobbed for a good 10 minutes as I cleaned it up. I cannot imagine going through something like this. 😢

[@stellarodiniru2670]

Talk about crying over spilt milk 😅

[@MummaQuan]

I remember crying hysterically because I spilled 6oz of milk. It took so long to get my supply up enough to actually pump enough to store and it got spilled on the table. I was so upset 😂 That stuff is literally liquid gold

[@trulygrateful7217]

I feel this! I’m terrible at pumping and barely get any output.😢

[@schaynegeorge4793]

I couldn't find anyone to accept my breastmilk when I had my oversupply with my twins. I ended up using it to make soap. I learned a whole new skill just to avoid wasting milk.

[@rabaanum]

😂 that is awesome

[@lillaneeni]

Awesome! My neighbor used to make soap out of goats milk so she offered to make soap out of my oversupply.

[@meaganballou6103]

Omg I feel so bad for these moms. I had this happen my middle child turned Mt freezer off and I threw it all away with out a thought just assuming it was bad but thankfully when it happened again with my youngest I was smart enough to look for ice and was able to refreeze all but 8oz with I used in time. So sad.

[@joanthomson924]

I had enough to freeze pack in ice and drive every two weeks to the Children’s Hospital. I had so much people would ask my sons name and I would start leaking! I was in a paint store this young man at the register was looking at me oddly as I signed my credit card with milk dripping on my hand! Lol gotta love your babies❤❤❤he is now 45years old. I did something right!lol😂😂😂

[@mamanursetina]

Well done mama!

[@GiveUaKnuckleSandwhich]

🤔

[@ChickenPermission617]

My go to was always the milk baths. I’d just label the damaged milk bags “bath only”. My first babe was a winter baby so between her skin still being so new and the dry winter air, her skin needed every ounce of moisture it could get. And that was a great way to do it!

[@rheah7180]

Any mother will tell you that crying over spilt milk is entirely acceptable and reasonable when it’s breastmilk 😂

[@UnicornsPoopRainbows]

I would use my old breast milk in the bath water. I learned I had to scald my milk or it would end up soapy and after like 6months, babies develop taste buds 😅 My kids are snobs

[@mamanursetina]

Haha! And yes milk baths are great for skin ♥️

[@elanorapowell6811]

My son used to get yeast infections and the only thing that would help is colostrum that is pumped before his birth. I was running low but still had some…my mom wanted to help clean up one day and dumped the bottle I had left. I remember crying so much. I cried when a 9oz bottle I pumped got tossed with my second baby…I felt this pain in my soul

[@Stop_Infanticide]

Not sure how kosher this is... but when we moved across the country my heavily insulated milk stash box was left out for 72hrs instead of 28hrs when we were delayed mid trip. The bottom half was cool, but the top half was not. I marked the room temp bags with an X and refroze it all. Over the next few weeks I did milk baths, made milk balm (didn't quite get the consistency right, so lmk if you have a good recipe!), and used milk as a toner. Even though the milk wasn't something I'd want to give to our kids to drink, it was still perfectly good for topical use, and everyone had silky smooth skin as a result! I now do the same thing with bags of milk that have been in the freezer for more than 6mo, since the nutrients degrade over time, and we don't have the luxury of owning a dedicated deep freezer.

[@BrendaP21]

Otherwise, mark the bags fully thawed with an x, refreeze, and use in the bath!!! It is amazing for skin problems!! Breastmilk baths are wonderful! (Speaking from experience!!)

[@olusiayaaa]

or use it for bath - soooo great for skin!

[@adriaofcourse]

Make soap! So good for baby’s and your skin!

[@MrsWheezer]

Lost power to the freezer where I stored my breastmilk without realizing it. I don’t know how many ounces I threw out. 😭 I still produced plenty for my baby but I’d been soooo close to being ready to stop pumping at work. I cried like the lady in this video. I wish I’d known about the ice crystals making it safe to refreeze, but this was over 20 years ago when breastfeeding/milk storage was just getting traction. Nobody around me knew anything, so I had to educate myself. Heck, there wasn’t even a lactation consultant at the hospital where I gave birth. My youngest child is 15 and things had really changed by the time she was born, and I felt really supported with my choice to breastfeed.

[@GivingPayback]

Heck, I still have frozen breastmilk from 2017 (mostly due to the fact I intend at this point to make some of the breastmilk jewelry from it) but also cause I thankfully made oversupply at that time with my son. The most I have ever made. I still thaw what I have left to this day and use it on my other childs eczema!!! I know it is not OK for anyone to ever drink, but it has so many benefits outside of that!!! I even had another baby in 2022 and was never able to produce the way I did with him ever again. But, I am down to like 3 bottles of it. And like I said, it is mostly keeping that small amount to make a keepsake from in resin jewelry. But I had tons with him that he never needed... so I saved it to use and thaw to put on his sisters skin and it was a lifesaver for that all these years!!! Kid yall not.

[@natk1105]

And then there's finding out after several months of exclusive pumping that your milk has high lipase and your child refuses to drink anything that's been in the freezer longer than a month because of the taste and it's too late to fix it. 😭

[@madhouse9705]

I always feel so bad for that woman. The way she's so heartbroken and crying, I just wanna hug her and promise it will be okay.

[@Bluebirdd]

You can use your thawed or unused milk in baby’s baths as well!

[@marym9150]

Don't open the door. You let in the warm air. If you know when the power went off, then do not open. And just wait.

[@shakilaoliver2542]

Also if you freeze that you could put on dehydrater and make your own formula!!!

[@Nicole73076]

You are AMAZING for sharing things that most don’t know about!! You go Momma!!

[@BrandyPowell77]

Donate it to a local mom who can’t breast feed, TRUST ME, there are tons of moms who would gladly taken even thawed milk. Just let them know it has to be used asap.

[@samanthalawson6617]

As someone who had a breast reduction before kids, getting even one ounce was a celebration. We definitely supplemented and I stopped after a month with each child but I know how much work that is and the emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion...I'd breakdown, too.

[@brookiegreen3765]

Oh man I wish I knew this 4 years ago! I had a really big milk supply with my 2nd and I had stuffed our freezer with so much milk that we're guessing it freaked it out or something because it stopped working (it started working again after a few days of being unplugged). I can't remember if it was cold or not when we noticed or if any had ice crystals but I do remember feeling physically sick for having lost sooo much milk I cried so hard. We then went out and bought a bigger freezer and started all over and I ended up having to stop pumping because I was getting too engorged and it hurt really bad and nothing was working to ease the pain but because of the extra milk I had I was still able to feed my baby till he was 1 with my stored milk so that was a blessing.

[@oliviat7054]

Take a bath in it dont throw the gold out

[@velmafrezzell950]

Yup, exactly!

[@The_Original_LBSwanson]

I feel for her so hard. Im so parinoid for my stash ive got a thermometer in it that will notify me if the temp goes up in there so at least i dont loose it be ause the freezer dies without me realizing.

[@HikeAlaska1]

If you live in a state where it freezes outside at night and stays below 40 during the day, just transfer to a shaded outside area and you’re gtg! If you’re in Canada or Alaska and it’s winter… just… well you already know. Just put it in the snow.

[@MouthyMama376]

Just a little comment to push this back out into the algorithms. Too many new moms have issues to let this one slide by without a like & comment! ❤

[@GivingPayback]

YES!!!! I saw a video a while back of a Momma freaking out cause their freezer had JUST quit... I was wishing I had a way to get in touch with her directly. I was so upset everyone in the comments was just sayikg "oh that sucks and I am sorry"... there are many things that can still be done, and some still was cold obviously, so I was like "NO"!!!!

[@SaronJoy]

My girlfriend invited everyone over for homemade ice cream and yogurt. Someone had the foresight to ask: "Janet, is this made with your breast milk?" We were all like 3 bowls in at that point. It was actually really good. We haven't been back to Janet's. 😅😅😅😅😂😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@MelanieBarrozo-u7s]

THANK YOU for this.

[@marikiemarie7622]

Ugh scary. I remember with my first. He's sleeping was so bad. He was 3 weeks old. I was having trouble getting enough milk. I managed to get 8oz. 4 from each boob. He had just ate as well from both. So he was full but I knew nothing would come out by morning. I went to kitchen to get milk ready for fridge. I also grabbed an older bottle that needed to be cleaned. I accidentally dumped the wrong bottle. 😢. All 8 ounces. I fell to the floor, cried and cried. My stomach and face hurt for days from that cry. I woke up hubby and father in law. My hubby knew qt1he struggle so he even cries with me. Lol still think of that nightmare 19 years later. Lol but when I woke up that morning, my boobs were way big. I got 3 ounce. Way better then anytime before. So things got better after that.

[@Elisdpuz]

Why do ppl freeze their milk? Im genuinely curious, wouldn't it make sense that in the moment ur baby is hungry, u just give them milk, instead of pumping alot and freezing it? I dont mean to be rude or anything, i genuinely know nothing about these things haha

[@marcialaboo3996]

I wish so hard that I knew this when I was nursing... I lost so much milk due to the freezer going out over night. I cried and cried. BUT my daughter is now 14 years old, so it all worked out 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@CynNiki]

$300 generator can run that freezer, IF power goes out in a freeze, toss an open cooler outside for bit to cool down (couple of hours), bag that milk in another bag (think large zipper kind), and toss those frozen nuggets of nutrition in.

[@MrsV18]

We have three chest freezers for this exact reason and my relatives have extra room in their chest freezers as well. If power goes out, we have freezer packs and other slow thawing items like meat to put on top of my milk to help keep it frozen for longer.

[@myfirstnamemylastname2994]

Poor little mama. All of our hearts hurt for you. But. S' going to be okay...

[@leavoda3791]

It would be very helpfull if someone could explain why so much breastmilk needs to get stored away in a frizer? It seems as a pretty specific usa problem? Is it because mommas too often need to go to work withing a few weeks after giving birth? So someone has to feed the newborn baby? I'm just trying to understand the setting in wich freezing so much breastmilk would be so important. I gave birth in 2008 and 2012 and both times got to stay home with my newborns for 11.5 months and breastfeed them untill about 18 months . I never had to use bottles or freeze milk, and the only dummys my boys wanted were out of natural rubber So I was allways curious why this is so impoetant....

[@helensernett9477]

Yep. Only time I cried over milk was when it was my own breast milk.

[@BadgerBabyBoy]

Isn’t it possible to not store breast milk and just feed always from the breast I’m a woman asking Possible future mother who doesn’t want to store breast milk and only wants to breast feed Is there any reason why that would be difficult or impossible to do

[@savannahcarlon7033]

It's definitely possible to only feed from the breast, but there are plenty of reasons why you may need to or want to pump and freeze milk, such as: Baby is having a hard time latching but a bottle is working better for them at the moment You've gone back to work so you pump to keep your supply going *and* to have on hand so your baby can continue to have breastmilk rather than formula while you're away Another person is doing some feeds at night or during the day You have a ton of letdown and want to store that extra milk for later use You're an over-producer and want to donate your excess breast milk

[@crystald3655]

Breasts can swell and become very painful if they build up to much milk. Pumping and storing can prevent that.

[@jiujitsuluvr3434]

The first thing we did when i found out i was pregnant was my fil bought a generator. Mostly because our water doesnt work if the power goes out but were fortunate enough to be able to afford that.

[@chandaphillips1337]

I pumped and thought I’d left my milk out too long because it separated. That’s normal. I shook up the bottle and downed it myself to see if it was really okay. It is.

[@blairshand]

What about dehydrating breast milk. Is this an option in this situation?

[@beautybread6855]

If the breast milk is made into baby-safe yogurt using 1-2 Tablespoons of Greek yogurt and left somewhere covered, dark, and a little warm for 24-36 hours, it will last longer than 24 hours in the fridge because of the probiotics, closer to 2 weeks ❤️

[@beautybread6855]

You could probably refreeze the yogurt after it is made into yogurt!

[@sewingbreesinger4831]

Send him to buy ice, Leave the freezer closed, Inspect for ice crystals, Refreeze or refrigerate. Good luck!

[@kathleenbradley7142]

aww that poor overwhelmed mama

[@SheWhoWalksSilently]

Buying bags of ice from the store is possible as long as you’re not super rural

[@marikiemarie7622]

Of you have a food source for your child that relies on electricity. You should have a generator at all times. Only takes a small one to run a fridge

[@marianaardelean4950]

What are the else things you can do?

[@leahhelbig6357]

I was like a freaking dairy cow we ran out of freezer space so i had to dump a lot of mine. Breastfeeding for me was no problem never had any issues.

[@AndieSchweizer]

I'd try to use some in baths if it's not nasty! I still have some that isn't safe for my almost 5yo to have, but I've used it in a bath here and there.

[@kristenjoyce7506]

I used to fall asleep pumping and I would wake up SOAKED! My bed, my sheets etc…all soaked in the precious breastmilk I woke up every 3 hours to try n get!

[@askewopal]

I could never pump enough to get a good supply going, I can't imagine having to throw it all away after all that work 😢

[@crisspyg.9742]

Could you possibly make your own formula if you were able to dehydrate it? Would it hold nutrition? I heard a story like this one where the girl lost ALL her formula like a whole freezers worth

[@lilith4413]

I live in a family with a bunch of people and they kept taking my breast milk out of the freezer or leaving the freezer open or moving the breast milk and at some point I just gave up and My child got formula when I couldn't do breast milk from my own body or if the breast milk was spoiled and I have about 10 oz in the freezer still that is definitely expired that I'm hoping to try to do something with but I also don't have the motivation because I'm so tired of having a baby

[@auroraheidialis]

Can you dehydrate breast milk?

[@soulstice18]

I was so afraid this would happen when I was breastfeeding that I bought a giant cooler just in case. When my sisters freezer went out with her 2000oz of breastmilk in it, I ran my giant cooler over and grabbed several bags of ice from the nearest store. She was able to save all of her breastmilk.

[@ChanningAyers]

With our first child, apparently there was a power outage for no more than a day while my husband and I were out of town so my in-laws threw out all my supply.. Yeah…

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

Awwwe😭

[@Qiswhattheycallme]

The first time I spilled a bottle of breast milk I ugly cried HARD

[@HalfInsaneJane]

I make toddler icecream with mine.

[@sadegarner2660]

I went to the hospital once and they put my breast milk in the freezer and someone throw it out by accident and i cried for a week. I know her pain 😢😢😢

[@vrangel8214]

😢

[@cezza6474]

Find someone who makes cold proses soap and get a batch of unscenred uncoloured colloidal oat and breast milk soap made!

[@risitascositas1699]

😭

[@aleshajohnson1065]

She make soap and do baths for the family or just her and the baby I would not let that go to waste

[@Annieb-xm7te]

I lost a gallon and a half of breast milk bc my power went out for like 3 days this was almost 2 years ago and im still sad 😭😭

[@aimzjane3548]

Baby bath

[@itsemeinin]

And I’m sure you can sneak it into your other kids’ cereal, your husband’s coffee or make gravy with it. I’ve purchased it and given it to my dog who had GI issues.

[@asabetti2353]

With all due respect Breast milk is wonderful but it is still not okay to do that without consent Especially after a certain age or for adults I am a mother who breastfed It would freak me out if someone was deceptive about what I was eating or drinking regardless

[@gencamero]

A person??!?? A woman who is lactating is what you failed to say. That’s the proper definition and description.

[@drewjay8940]

"that's not a PERSON, that's a WOMAN!" What an outdated mindset

[@elizabethdawn6806]

Thank you I hate the way she talks about mothers here 😤 we are not “people with breastfeeding breasts” ma’am you mean women???

[@AmberParker-jx2sg]

Make soap

[@lilwater3279]

Make breast milk soap!!

[@GivingPayback]

YES!!!! I saw a video a while back of a Momma freaking out cause their freezer had JUST quit... I was wishing I had a way to get in touch with her directly. I was so upset everyone in the comments was just sayikg "oh that sucks and I am sorry"... there are many things that can still be done, and some still was cold obviously, so I was like "NO"!!!!