Breast milk is called "white blood" for a reason; it's a living substance with antibodies and nutrients that constantly change to fit your baby's needs. When you pump and freeze your breast milk, the majority of those nutrients stay intact, but the way you thaw your breast milk has a big impact on the quality of your milk after it's been frozen. There are a few great (and a few not so great) ways to thaw frozen breast milk that do all of the above and ensure that it reaches the perfect temperature for your baby — not too hot and not too cold.

Of course, pumping requires a lot more organization and forethought than exclusive breastfeeding, but with a little extra effort, your baby will get all of the nutrients of breast milk.

There's nothing worse than putting so much time and energy into pumping only to realize the milk you've set out to thaw on the counter isn't useable, or that you shouldn't have thrown it in the microwave after all. Learning a little bit more about the proper storage, thawing, and warming of breast milk will save you (and your boobs and baby) from the unnecessary heartache of wasted milk.