This soapy, spoiled milk occurrence is usually lipase activity beginning to
digest the milk..... or the fats in the milk, I think. Someone correct me if
I am wrong.
Dr. Ruth Lawrence's book Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession,
1994, p. 619 states:
" Women have reported to the Lactation Study Center that their fresh-frozen
breast milk smells sour and even rancid and is rejected by their infant.
Although a slightly slapy odor had sometimes been noted, it had never been
reported to be harmful nor to be rejected by the infant. This soapy smell
has been attributed to a change in the lipid structure associated with the
freeze-thaw effects of the self-defrost cycle in the freezer-refrigerator.
The cases reported to the center, however, have suggested true lipid
breakdown is associated witht he rancid smell. The speculation was that some
women have more lipase activity than others, as noted in the study of lipase
and hyperbilirubinemia. Some mothers reported that their milk began to smell
as soon as it cooled, whether refrigerated or frozen. Others have noted that
their stockpile of milk, meticulously stored in anticipation of returning to
work, was rancid and rejected by their infant. When these mothers heated
their milk to a scald ( not boiling) and then quickly cooled and froze it,
the effect was not apparent and their infants accepted the heat-treated
milk. That process inactivated the lipase and halted the process of fat
digestion. On the other hand, scalding rancid milk will not improve the
flavor or smell."
That is what I have on this subject.
Kathleen
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,TLC, Indep. Consultant
Williston, Vermont
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