EBM tastes horrible

[SallyDom]

Hi everyone,

I remember reading on here that some women have bm that tastes horrible after it has been frozen and then defrosted. We have always been fine but about 2 weeks ago Zac started refusing his porridge for breakfast, then refusing his vege's for lunch. He is a really good eater so I was suprised at his refusal but one day I tried a bit of his food to test it wasn't too hot and it tasted awful, a bit like sick.

Yesterday I mixed his breakfast with some defrosted milk and again it tasted awful which made me remember what I'd read on here about defrosted milk, but I don't understand because he has drank defrosted milk in the past and it's been ok (he hasn't refused it anyway), and I usually mix his food with freshly expressed milk, it was just a one off that I defrosted some yesterday.

The only thing I can think has changed is that I'm now taking Fenugreek, for the last month or so.

Can bm be ok at the start and then turn funny later on (Zac is now 6 months old)?

Sally
x

 

[babymunkey]

Hi Sally

I wonder if you can remember where you read that about defrosted and re-heated breast milk?

We have noticed that our lo is reluctant with the bottle sometimes, and now I think about it, it is normally when I decide to give him a bottle during the day, which would nomrlaly be EBM. We never have a problem with the DF through, and that is always formula........I read your post as I was really just being nosey, but now I'm wondering if its the defrosted breast milk........??

[SallyDom]

Hi,
I read it on here when I was reading someone else's post!
I think it may have been Samuel's mum (one of bf mods) who told someone else about it. I'm sure they'll be on soon to give more info about it.

I also have problems giving Zac bottles of ebm during the day (like you we give a bottle of formula for his df and ave no problem there), he rarely has a bottle during the day tho and I wonder if it because he would rather have a breastfeed than a bottle. Will your lo take a bottle from your dp ok?

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi ladies, Yes your right there was a post on here about that, i remember posting that i had never tried it then one night wipped my finger where some had spilt and tasted it. To my supprise its was like sugary milk (NICE).

Anyway getting back to the question, can't rembember what its called but i think there is something in bm that can sometimes change the smell when frozen. And i think they said that it was still ok to use (but don't quote me) Emma or Katie will know.

Kate x

[babymunkey]

We've tried someone else giving him the bottle - inc dp, various grandparents etc, but makes no difference. He kind of starts off strong, but qquickly gets fussy and keeps pushing the bottle out then wanting it back and squirming in our laps etc. But if we take it away he still seems hungry. I also wondered if it was because his "routine" is not bottles during the day, and he distinguishes between daytime feeding and Df and nightfeeds in terms of what he's used too.....but now I'm wondering if its the breast milk?

will taste the next batch I defrost and see........or maybe I'll try a bottle of forumula in the day tomorrow and see what happens.......I'll let you know!

[Samuel's mum]

I'm guessing you are referring to the excess lipase thing. More here:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/lipase-expressedmilk.html

However it's something people have from the beginning (so might apply in babymunkey's case) rather than have it come on...hmmm....never heard of fenugreek being an issue. Might it be an issue with recent storage. Anything else changed?
Anyone else have an idea?

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Thanks Emma not good with remember names

[SallyDom]

Thanks Emma, I'll have a look at the article now. I didn't think it would be the Fenugreek but that was the only thing I could think of that had changed.

x

[{{{Angela}}}]

My DD won't eat cereal with breastmilk or take a bottle, but she'll eat cereal made with water.  I wondered if she just didn't have having breastmilk except from the source.  I find my breastmilk smells kind of strange, but my DS never had any problems taking it once expressed.  Hmmmm strange...

[SallyDom]

It is strange Angela, they're funny little things aren't they with their likes and dislikes.

We haven't had any problems for a few days now, I wonder if I'd eaten something funny and somehow made a dodgy pint!

x

[squeaky's mum]

I remember my bf counsellor telling me that if you shake breast milk too vigourously is tastes 'soapy'. She told me it was better to 'swirl' it gently until the fatty bits and watery its are mixed together.

[flutie]

I exclusively pump and ds refuses to drink frozen milk yet will guzzle milk that has been refridgerated for days.....little monkey keeps me busy!!

[Jocasta]

I have a lipase excess and have to scald my milk before storing - even in the fridge - it takes a matter of hours to sour.  I have read that it's perfectly normal for milk to taste and smell "soapy" after freezing and that this is completely harmless and most babies will accept it just fine, but with the lipaze, if I leave my unscalded defrosted milk for an hour at room temp, it actually curdles!