Stored breast milk is essential for maintaining a healthy milk supply and a flexible feeding schedule. But one key concern that a lot of breastfeeding mothers have is knowing how to tell if breastmilk is bad or good for the baby. If you can’t tell if your breast milk is bad then you could end up either wasting it or putting your baby at risk. So in this post, we will provide more clarity on how to tell if your breast milk has gone bad, along with tips on how to preserve it.
3 Signs That Your Breast Milk Has Gone Bad
2. The Scent
Take a moment to smell your breast milk after storing it for some time. Fresh breast milk has a sweet, slightly sweet, or soapy smell. If your breast milk has a sour or rancid odor, then this might be a sign that it has gone bad. But this may not be the case for mothers who have high-lipase breast milk. If you have high-lipase breastmilk then your breastmilk may still have a sour and rancid odor even if it is still good to drink. Click here to learn more about high-lipase breast milk.
2. The Appearance
Fresh breastmilk is typically white, light yellow, cream, or bluish-white. Also, after storage for some time, it may separate into two layers of watery and creamy milk. The watery milk is seen at the bottom while the creamy layer is seen on top. If you swirl the milk a few times and it is still separated into 2 layers then that may indicate that it has gone bad.
3. The Taste
Sometimes you could try tasting it. If you notice a sour/rancid taste after being stored in the refrigerator for a period of time, then that could be a sign that it’s spoiled. But this could be harder to tell if your breastmilk has high lipase and is kept frozen for a period of time. Breastmilk with high lipase may have a bad taste after being frozen, even though there is nothing wrong with it. Also, if the milk doesn’t usually taste this way after being stored then it could also be a sign that it is spoiled.
Preventing Spoiled Breast Milk
Refrigerating
Label and store your breastmilk in the refrigerator as soon as possible after expressing it. Make sure it is tightly sealed. Be sure to place it in the back of the refrigerator where the temperature will be cooler and more consistent. Avoid storing your breastmilk for too long at room temperature outside the fridge because that would cause it to quickly go bad. Always check the temperature of breast milk before feeding. If it is warm then this may indicate that it has been at room temperature for too long.
Freezing
If you’re not going to use the breast milk within a few days, then consider freezing it. Use storage bags or containers that are specifically designed for freezing breast milk. Make sure it is tightly sealed and leave some space at the top of the container for the milk to expand when frozen. When you’re ready to use frozen breastmilk, thaw it gradually by placing it in the refrigerator overnight or running it under cool water. Avoid microwaving breastmilk, as it can create hot spots that can burn your baby’s mouth and degrade the quality of the milk.
Final Thoughts
By considering the scent, appearance, and taste of your breastmilk, you can determine if it is safe for your baby to drink. But be sure to maintain healthy storage practices to maintain the quality of your milk. If you’re ever unsure about the safety of breast milk, then it is always best to speak with a lactation consultant. Additionally, if your baby shows any signs of illness after consuming your breastmilk, then we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional. We hope you found this article, on how to tell if breastmilk is bad, to be informative. Please don’t forget to share. You may also be interested in a previous one with 5 essential tips for pumping and breastfeeding success.
