Comments on: Lipase And Bad Tasting Breast Milk

By: karle

karle — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:15:31 +0000

how do you find out whether or not you have high levels of lipase in your breast milk? After reading up on “sour/metallic” milk taste, I think my freezer supply might be “rancid” for lack of better words….. if the baby will drink it is it still okay to feed it to her? and will scalding really help?

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:10:34 +0000

If your milk has excess lipase, milk banks will still accept it! I had 600+ oz in our deep freezer as my daughter refused bottles and reverse cycled. When I finally started mixing it with rice cereal, I discovered the lipase issue. My local milk bank mixes all breast milk and they said lipase doesn’t mean the milk is rancid. DONATE if your baby refuses it! That’s much better than tossing it.

By: STeve

STeve — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:18:14 +0000

Has anyone ever tried adding flavor to the thawed out milk to get rid of that metallic taste? I was thinking of adding a few drops of vanilla extract to overpower the sour taste. It seems such a waste to throw away good milk, just because the fat broke down. Maybe adding some fat would help, (i.e.) oive oil, flax seed oil.

By: Kerrie

Kerrie — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:29:44 +0000

Help! I go back to work in one day and just discovered all of my frozen breastmilk has the spit up sour taste. Should I destroy the milk, forget the pumping and buy a can of formula?

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:25:20 +0000

I just visited the pedi. today for my daughters 4 month check-up and she said to NEVER put your milk on the stove. Now I’m totally confused as to what to do. I have almost 200 oz of breastmilk that smells and tastes like spit-up and another 75 oz that has been put on the stove.

What to do?

By: EJ

EJ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:01:43 +0000

If your baby accepts the milk it is perfectly fine to give it to him. If he begins to reject the frozen milk, then you may have to start from scratch with storage in the freezer.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:43:25 +0000

I’ve just realized that my frozen breast milk is high in lipase. My son seems to drink it even though I tasted it and it’s horrible. I will now scald before freezing, but what about the milk I already have frozen? Is it safe to continue feeding it to him?

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:12:55 +0000

Thank you so much for the info!!! I am a working mom. My son used to drink from a bottle but all of a sudden refused to do so. I was so confused!!!! I tried every single bottle invented and he just wouldn’t have it. Thanks for the tip…

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:55:55 +0000

This is great advice! Thank you for sharing this with us.

By: Jessi

Jessi — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:27:37 +0000

There is another solution besides scalding BM. As you’ve stated, lipase is an enzyme that breaks down the fat in breastmilk (It works like a little engine, and just like an engine, additives make it run quicker & better). Enzymes can be activated by metal ions such as Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese. Most likely the problem, for people with high levels of lipase in their BM, is these metals in the tapwater you are using to wash and rinse your breastpump equipment in. Trying washing, and rinsing anything that comes into contact with BM with distilled water. Also use phosphate-free dish soap. This should greatly reduce or even eliminate the problem. You will always have the high lipase in your BM, so your milk will not last as long as BM with normal levels of lipse, but it will last alot longer than a few hours. I’ve used this and even managed to keep my BM frozen up to 3months in a deep freeze w/o getting the soured taste. As long as the bottle/sippy cup I use has been well rinse with distilled water, it has even lasted over 4 hours at room temp w/o souring prematurely.