https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 10:31:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2335664 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:33:23 +0000 Raindrop 2335664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this happen to me too. I googled it and emailed my doc and all sources said the milk was safe. LO wouldn't take it though! </p> <p>So I had to dump it because it expired. I only had about 50 oz of frozen milk that I managed to save before I went to work and I didn't make more extra because of going back to work.</p> <p>Sorry you are going through this! Pumping milk is a pain and every oz seems like gold. I was sad having to pour away the little I had. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2335642 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:18:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 2335642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Excess lipase :( i had to throw out SO MUCH MILK because of it ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2335611 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:04:27 +0000 Jess1483 2335611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And yes, the high lipase milk is totally safe for LO, so if you can get him to take it mixed in, it's no problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2335609 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:03:17 +0000 Jess1483 2335609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, sounds like lipase. I have that. I ended up donating over 300 ounces with DS1 because he wouldn't take it. I was mostly SAH, so I didn't try any mixing. I was easily able to produce what I needed, scald and store, for the occasional bottle he got. It's fairly easy, but still a pain. Wall me if you want more info. I've been scalding from the start with DS2, and it's made things much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2335579 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:55:16 +0000 QBbride 2335579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I'm sure it's not rotten!! KellyMom has a good info page on high lipase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334975 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 05:46:31 +0000 mrswin 2334975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I have the same issue...excess lipase and my DD will refuse it. I have been leaving as much fresh milk as I can and then my DH mixes some frozen in with the fresh at each bottle. </p> <p>I have started scalding all my milk before freezing it but I also discovered that I can keep frozen milk for about a month before the lipase becomes an issue. How old is what you have in the freezer? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334884 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:53:44 +0000 simplyfelicity 2334884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: Great idea.. thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334882 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:52:30 +0000 Applesandbananas 2334882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I got into this great little routine when I went back to work, of freezing my Friday milk, then pumping a little over the weekend to make enough for half of his Monday intake and then I'd thaw the oldest milk in my stash for the other half of his Monday intake. It worked out really well and it helped me build a great stash! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334880 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:50:56 +0000 simplyfelicity 2334880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: i'm so worried it's all rotten! I might try defrosting some the ideal way and see if it's still off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334878 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:49:44 +0000 TiredmommaMD 2334878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with the others. Lipase. Sorry😕. It's a pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334877 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:48:43 +0000 QBbride 2334877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like high lipase. You can start scalding your milk before freezing and maybe mixing 1/2 scalded milk with 1/2 of the original milk to see if he'll take it like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334876 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:48:39 +0000 simplyfelicity 2334876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: Thank you! My plan with the milk is to use it here and there once I go back to work...so maybe I can mix it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334874 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:45:37 +0000 littleblessings 2334874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second applesandbananas on the lipase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334869 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:36:53 +0000 Applesandbananas 2334869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this. It smelled almost rancid. My IBCLC assured me it was fine, there are two different things that can cause funky smelling frozen milk (different types of funky smells) one is excess lipase and if you google it, you'll find a lot of great information on scalding before freezing to reduce that almost soapy smell, and the other thing has to do with your diet having an imbalance of something (I *think* it was something like polyunsaturated fats) but both are safe!</p> <p>When I realized this, I'd been giving LO the frozen milk on occasion and he still drank it just fine. To ease my mind, I started freezing in 2oz increments and mixing fresh and frozen to make it not be so stinky. I was assured it was safe and LO devoured it, but I would check with an IBCLC if you can!</p> <p>More info! <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thawed-breastmilk-smells-weird#post-2334864 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:25:55 +0000 simplyfelicity 2334864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MIL was watching DS tonight and gave him BM from the freezer stash. She said he wouldn't touch it, so I gave it the smell test and it had this horrid metallic smell-- not spoiled or freezer burn. I have no idea how she thawed it. I am now worried that I have nearly 400 oz of bad milk. They are stored in BM bags in a locked stand up freezer (so it should be good for 6-12 months.) Help please?! </p>