Do you microwave breast milk?

[Anonymous]

I used to warm bottles up in warm water, then this got old and we started putting the bottles in the microwave to heat them. DS only gets 1 bottle a day usually but will be starting at a babysitters 2 days/week in January where he will get bottles. I thought you were not supposed to microwave bottles because it can heat the milk/formula unevenly so we are always careful to swirl the milk and test it first, we only put it in for 20 seconds just to get the chill off. But I just read that you shouldn't heat it in the microwave because it can change the milk's composition. Does anyone microwave their milk? Do you think it is a big deal I only put it in for 15-20 seconds so the milk is luke warm at best.

[Anonymous]

I don't for a few reasons.

The bottle you are microwaving it in is probably not microwave safe so you are encouraging the leaching of toxins from the plastic into the milk.

In addition, the milk breaks down and has less nutritional value.

[Anonymous]

they are born free bottles if they are bpa free are they also microwave safe or is that totally different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't for a few reasons.

The bottle you are microwaving it in is probably not microwave safe so you are encouraging the leaching of toxins from the plastic into the milk.

In addition, the milk breaks down and has less nutritional value.

Agree 100%, I am too paranoid about that. Also - I am scared that it will heat it up uneven. I used to boil water in the microwave - or even just get it really hot, about 2 minutes and plop the bag of breast milk in there. I guess I always thawed out the milk in the fridge first so it did not seem to take that long to make it luke warm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:they are born free bottles if they are bpa free are they also microwave safe or is that totally different?

not sure but good point - call the manufacturer and ask them.

[pamD]

I think even BPA-free/"microwave safe" plastic can leach nasty chemicals. I'd stick with warming the bottle in water that has been microwaved. I had resisted buying a bottle warmer, but finally bought a cheap one and liked using it. Might be worth it for the babysitter... she can just turn it on pop in the bottle, and a few minutes later, it's ready.

[Anonymous]

Sit the Breast milk in a bowl of hot/warm water. I never use Microwave for kid stuff.

[Anonymous]

Please don't microwave breast milk. If I remember correctly, it can break down the antibodies that are so good for the baby. We also bought a $20 bottle warmer from target, and it was totally worth it.

[Anonymous]

No never. Run it under water and defrosts in a moment. Or heat it up in a mug of warm water. Microwave kills good stuff in breast milk

[Anonymous]

They say not to microwave bottles also because they can re-heat unevenly and make parts of the milk or plastic really hot. Also some bottles can melt somewhat in the microwave.

I think you should get a bottle warmer--I was one of those people who thought I would never get one because its just one more unneccesary appliance. But I have found its SO worth it! They cost like $20 at Babies R Us. You put the bottle in, put in a little water, and 1 minute later its warm. Its great for when I am gone and DH feeds DC too, because you can put the bottle in while still holding the baby.

[Anonymous]

I got the same advice and dutifully used hot water to heat the bottle.

I was told that toxins would leach out, that the bottles would melt, that I could get hot spots, that it would destroy nutritional value.

But then I started thinking:

How can this "leaching toxins" thing be real? I mean, what is the difference between the heat applied by water and the heat applied by a microwave? Microwaves only agitate water molecules, so it is not like the microwave acts directly on the plastic. And the water I was using was near boiling, so it can't be cooler than the hot milk in a microwave.

I never once melted a bottle in a microwave, although I did melt a few by having them hit the side of the pan of water on the stove.

Hot spots are very easy to fix. I just shook the bottle after I was done heating it and checked the temp with my hand, which I had to do for bottles heated in water anyway.

So that led me to ask, is there any real data on microwaves destroying the nutritional value of the milk? I could not find anything to support that for low heating. Can anyone find something to support that claim?

[Anonymous]

Good questions pp. I do microwave bm put we use the drop in playtex bottles, and I always put the milk into a coffee mug and heat it that way and then put it in the bottle and shake.

[Anonymous]

Microwaving BM basically defeats the purpose of BM, the good stuff is harmed by heating in the microwave. Warm in warm water.