frozen breastmilk tastes metallic

madisonlindy

I was so happy that I built up a stash in the freezer.  I used a couple of the bags for the first time and they both smelled and tasted like metal.  I googled this and it came back with lipase as the culprit.  Has anyone else experienced this?  I am so annoyed that everything in my freezer is going to taste like metal.  I worked so hard for it.  LO still drinks it but it's annoying none the less. 

bhawk0527

I could be wrong but if Lo drinks it, its ok to use. I had a huge stash and it all taste nasty and DD sticks her nose up to it I'm in denial though because I haven't thrown it away.

madisonlindy

bhawk0527:

I could be wrong but if Lo drinks it, its ok to use. I had a huge stash and it all taste nasty and DD sticks her nose up to it I'm in denial though because I haven't thrown it away.

That's such a bummer!  I'm worried that the longer it's in the freezer the more metallic it will taste, and eventually LO will stick his nose up at it.  I can't let that happen to the liquid gold!

jrlandrigan

I have a lipase problem, and it really sucks when you get that freezer stash and you realize about the lipase afterwards.. I actually had 2 or 3 gallon size bags filled with bags of milk, at least 200 oz that is 'bad'. I thought DS was drinking it fine but DH eventually told me that DS often would scream when taking a bottle because of the taste. It would also make him spit up way more than usual (he has reflux as it is).
We started making his bottles with half or less of the frozen milk and the rest fresh, which he would usually drink, but still would make him sick.

I finally told DH that we can throw out the last gallon bag and a half of milk since it makes LO sick and we won't be using it anymore anyways.. it's so depressing because like you said, it takes so much to build up that freezer stash and it's like throwing away gold!

What I now do before freezing milk, which is usually just on Fridays at the end of the week when we won't need milk for bottles again until Monday morning.. we have to scald the milk first, cool it in the fridge, and then pour into bags and freeze. It's a pain but so far so good. When scalding, just watch until tiny bubbles start to form and pop around the edges of the pot and remove from heat and put right into the fridge. Hope this helps.

DarcyLongfellow

Excess lipase is not supposed to be harmful at all -- until I read PP above I've never heard of it making a baby sick. If your baby takes it, awesome! Ditto on the scalding to fix the problem. Good luck!

easyBreezie

Whatever you do, DO NOT throw away the milk. Try mixing some with cereal or doing 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/4 to 3/4. If it's going to go bad then donate it. The milk banks mix it in a large batch with others so the babies don't even taste it.

I lost 300 oz. due to lipase at 4 months. Since then I've been scalding and freezing and don't have the problem. As the PP said, put it in a pot and turn the heat all the way up and when the little bubbles start forming across the top, stick it in the fridge for a little when then freeze it.

I know it totally sucks but you'll work your stash back up. Don't beat yourself up over it too much like I did. Sorry you're having this horrible issue as well!