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Sour Breastmilk?

Corinne - posted on 02/12/2009 ( 5 moms have responded )

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Hi, I have been pumping my breastmilk and freezing it in "The First Years" breastmilk storage bags for the past 3 months. Just recently I wanted to use some of it, so I thawed it out in the fridge and it was sour! It smelled so bad I was gagging. I thought maybe it was just that one bag, so I thawed out another bag and the same thing, so far I have thawed 6 bags and they are all sour... has this happened to anyone else? Do you think it could the brand of bag that I used? Has anyone had success with another breastmilk storage bag? Or could there be another reason for this? Thanks for your help! =)

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Jessica - posted on 02/12/2009

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I had that problem using those little plastic containers they give you for storing breat milk from the hospital. I started using the Gerber storage bags for freezing. They worked great. You have to make sure that you are putting the milk all the way in the back of your freezer almost immediately after pumping it. Becasue any type of temp fluctuation will cause the milk to go bad, and smell terrible(learned this after I was keeping the milk on the door) Also maybe there is something wrong with the freezer, found out the seal was bad on ours which was also causing the milk to go bad. I would also defrost the milk in the fridge and would use it within hours of defrosting, Hope that helps

Sherilyn - posted on 02/12/2009

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Breastmilk goes bad in your regular freezer after 3 months. If it was in a Deep Freezer

(your bigger cubbed freezer you would use to store meat, milk, Veggies ect.) it can/should stay good up to 6 months, if didn't then there is something wrong with the freezer (it has to be cleaned, it is set at the wrong tempature). Just make sure you don't use the milk and I would give the fridge and freezer a good clean, esspecally if the meat and veggies are getting frozen burnt - a snow like in the package!!

Shawna - posted on 02/12/2009

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I store mine in the fridge for 15 mins then put it in the zip lock freezer bag and suck the air out and seal it. I have had some milk in the freezer for 2 months now , its still good. When i use it tho i run the bag under hot water till its warm and then put it in the bottle for my baby, well i dont do this my babys daddy does.

Malinda - posted on 02/12/2009

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Another thought is that I have read this is caused by lipase in breast milk - some women produce more than others. You might Google lipase and see what you find out.

Malinda - posted on 02/12/2009

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I have heard that some of the bags have that effect, but it isn't necessarily that the milk is bad. How long do they stay in the freezer? Just overnight?

You might try "blanching" the milk before freezing (toss it in boiling water for a few seconds) before freezing. I have heard this helps.

I didn't have this experience using either the Lansinol or Medela bags, though... so you could always try a different brand.

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