Would you feed it to him?

[swannie]

Elliott was at my mom's today. He started a third bottle at 3pm but only had an ounce or two. There's a few ounces left. She put it back into the fridge immediately after he was done with what he wanted.

I nursed him from one side at 5 when I picked him up and the other side about an hour later. If he gets hungry within the next hour (it's 7pm now), would it be okay have Steve offer him the remainder of that bottle? I know I've had her offer it at the next feeding, but that's usually within 3 hours or so. This would be closer to 4.5...

My inclination is to say, sure, go ahead and offer it once more! But I wanted to see what you all would do. :)

[cc26]

I'm not sure but I was wondering about this too. Sometimes she doesn't finish the bottle DH gives her and I haven't really seen guidelines about how long you can wait to give them the rest. I just hate watching my precious milk go to waste!

[Ky'sMom]

I rarely throw out my milk. It will have to sit out all night for me to throw it out.

Erin

[AbbeysMom]

i wouldn't offer it, but I think the older she gets the more lax I'll get because her immune system will be more developed. At 3 and a half months I'd probably say go for it (and I've heard bm has less bacteria the longer it sits out... does anyone know about this?)

:)

[Irish-Eyes]

oh god, I've done this from milk we've put back in the fridge and left overnight! I've heard formula you are supposed to throw out but never bm just because they've eaten from it. I say go right ahead.

[martiniqus]

oh god, I've done this from milk we've put back in the fridge and left overnight! I've heard formula you are supposed to throw out but never bm just because they've eaten from it. I say go right ahead.

Same thing here. If it smells good, I would offer it.

[Amanda0102]

i wouldn't offer it, but I think the older she gets the more lax I'll get because her immune system will be more developed. At 3 and a half months I'd probably say go for it (and I've heard bm has less bacteria the longer it sits out... does anyone know about this?)

:)

I voted "Booby" because of this - if it's 2-3 ounces, I'd toss it - I only felt comfortable giving Sam ABC milk :winks: after he was months older because of the bacteria worry.

BUT if you're facing an 8 oz deficit, I might pretend to forget about the critters for a few minutes...

[cynleigh99]

I've wondered this as well. I'm too scared to do it, but if you feel its okay, then go for it. I hate wasting milk. Question, if its been warmed and they dont drink it, can you put it back in the fridgeand reheat....thats what your asking too right??

[swannie]

He took it and has been fine!

Thanks guys. :)

p.s. Amanda, the germ/immunity factor went by the wayside long ago. There's only so much I can do to stop Adrian, like, poking fingers in his mouth and whatever else. ;)

[Amanda0102]

p.s. Amanda, the germ/immunity factor went by the wayside long ago. There's only so much I can do to stop Adrian, like, poking fingers in his mouth and whatever else. ;)
Oh yeah, E is your second baby!! :lol:

[haydensmom]

Heck yes!

[EKZZS]

Was it fresh or frozen to start with. I read somewhere that its okay to offer fresh for one more feeding but not frozen. Thats the rule I use. I HATE tossing milk. My mom and MIL think I am psycho when I go off on them when they waste milk or even come CLOSE to wasting milk.

[swannie]

It was fresh.

And I have this dilemma again! I took A to the dentist this AM, was gone for like 45 mins and left E with my mom. She heated and offered him a bottle RIGHT before I got back, he took one ounce and was done. So I have a started 3-ounce bottle left in the fridge that I guess we will offer E again if he freaks out while I put A to bed tonight. :P

[martiniqus]

I would too.

[mohop]

If it's fresh, I would even save it till the next day or something.

[01buckler15]

I did that with Kaleb back when he was still nursing. I would hate to waist something that took so long to make. KWIM
He's fine and healthy now, at 3 yrs old. So it can't be that bad of a thing.

And I'm out of the germ faze too! :P

[xaive]

i've done that. and more than once.

i always change the nipple though.

[Taffyrn]

testing has shown it good out for 8 hours.... but if you get in in the frig right away I wouldn't think that rule applies, but I would use it up within 24 hours.....

[PurplePasion]

Maybe I'm wierd but I would taste it before I gave it. I know what my BM tastes like when it spoils so I know when a bottle has gone bad. Again, I may just be weird about this one. GL...

[bellie]

I agree with saving if it was fresh, dumping (so sad, it hurts) if it was frozen.

[sunrider]

I have always heard that once it's been heated to never rechill it. If it was fresh milk to begin with, once heated, I use the "use within 10 hours rule". So far we've never had problems with that.

There have been times he hasn't finished his last bottle when we arrive at daycare. We keep it out at room temp and offer it when he's hungry again. BF is well established, so I'd rather do this and pump the boobies than dump that milk I worked so hard to GET into that bottle. KWIM?

[lawchickasaw]

i have never done that...but i would. i honeslty don't understand why you aren't supposed to rechill it. though, i don't.

speaking of, does anyone know why you aren't supposed to.

[swannie]

I never read that. I refrigerate it again until the next feeding.

[HunterGreen]

I said "heck no" because unless you change out the nipple, she could get a huge bacterial load due to the bacteria's that can grow in the nipple after she has already used it. Bacteria can still grow in the fridge, most need to be frozen before they will go dormant.

I would rather waste 2-3 oz, than to get my DD sick or end up with medical bills. My BM is free and all the others cost money...so to be safe, I toss any bottles that aren't finished in one sitting. I am now only filling bottles to 3 oz in order to not waste as much, and I leave a bag in the fridge so you can always add more to that bottle.

[swannie]

Mmmmm, bacterial load. :P

I've read that the antibacterial properties in breastmilk make it a safer option than to reuse the milk than, say, formula. But I suppose changing the nipple isn't a bad idea anyway.