A fishy, soapy, or metallic smell in stored breast milk is typically caused by high lipase activity, where the lipase enzyme breaks down fats too quickly. While it often occurs in refrigerated or frozen milk, the milk is generally safe and edible for the baby. Common causes include high lipase levels, diet, or, rarely, a metabolic condition.
Is High Lipase Milk Dangerous to Your Baby? Dr. Chang points out that while excess lipase can change the taste of the milk, it does not make it harmful to the baby. In fact, it may even have benefits for your milk.
The longer milk is kept at room temperature or even in the refrigerator before being frozen, the more lipase activity it will have. Milk that has a high level of lipase can develop a soapy smell and taste, but is not harmful to the baby.
A fishy body odor in children can be caused by dietary factors, poor hygiene, or rare metabolic conditions like trimethylaminuria. Encourage regular bathing with gentle soap and wearing clean clothes. Monitor diet for foods that may contribute to odor, such as fish or certain vegetables.
You probably have high lipase in the milk which can give a soapy or plastic like scent. Some babies don't like the taste/smell but many don't care. You can try adding non-alcoholic vanilla extract if your baby won't drink it. Or scald your milk before freezing.
Some mothers have excess lipase activity in their breastmilk. Lipases are normal enzymes found in the milk that help your baby digest the breastmilk. Don't worry, there is nothing wrong with your milk and you CAN still give it to your baby!
Unusual Taste or Odor
Under normal conditions, breast milk has a characteristic mild, slightly creamy flavor, without being overly salty or sweet. If it tastes fishy, sour, or has an unpleasant smell, the milk has likely spoiled, and its nutritional integrity is compromised.
However, if there is an excess lipase activity in the milk, it can result in a fishy or soapy odor due to it breaking down the fats found within it. This can cause some babies to refuse to drink the milk that has been expressed. The rate at which this process occurs can vary widely from person to person.
Last Revised. Most mothers say breast milk smells sweet or doesn't really have a smell. However, sometimes mothers notice that their expressed breast milk smells or tastes soapy or sour—either soon after expressing or after storage in the freezer. Occasionally a baby will refuse expressed breast milk.
Vaginal discharge can also provide information about what kind of vulvovaginitis your child may have. A watery discharge that's odorless may mean a yeast infection, for example, while a discharge that's thick and milky and smells fishy may indicate bacterial vaginosis.
We suggest that the ammonia content significantly increases in breasts with inflammation due to mastitis, and infants might be sensitive to a change in the odor of milk during mastitis. The perception of an ammonia odor in milk seems a reasonable explanation for refusing to suckle.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
Can babies get sick from old breast milk? If your baby has had spoiled breast milk, they'll likely let you know. They may throw up, or have an upset stomach, diarrhea or fever. It's important to call your pediatrician if you think your baby may be sick from having spoiled breast milk.
If you do have excess lipase activity in your breast milk, you might notice a difference in its smell and taste after pumping and storing, though how long this takes to develop can vary from person to person. Some possible changes include: Milk that has a soapy smell or taste. Milk that has a metallic smell or taste.
(If you're wondering whether babies can smell breast milk at night, the answer is yes!) In addition, breast milk is higher in fat content during this nighttime hours, too, which is great for your little one's fast-developing brain.
Symptoms include:
Breast milk after being refrigerated and thawed may have various odors, such as soap-like, rancid, or fishy smells. To remove odors from frozen breast milk, mothers should follow all safe breast milk storage guidelines and try some of the suggested methods below for removing fishy odors from frozen breast milk.
Rule #2: The Breast Milk Storage Guidelines.
The 4-4-4 Rule. Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months.
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU), also known as fish odor syndrome or fish malodor syndrome, is a rare metabolic disorder that causes a defect in the normal production of an enzyme named flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3).
Trimethylamine Responsible for Fishy Flavor in Milk from Cows on Wheat Pasture.
We are unable to change the composition of your breastmilk and prevent high lipase levels occurring in your breastmilk, but there are treatment methods to manage the lipase in your expressed breastmilk. These involve what we call scalding, or heat treating your milk. This works to inactivate the lipase.
Description. Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotten or decaying fish.
If your milk smells rancid or sour, then it likely has spoiled and will need to be thrown out as it could make the baby sick once ingested.
Your baby will not be harmed by drinking your breast milk. If it is too painful to have your baby nurse on the infected breast, move to the other breast. Milk should be emptied from the breast either by the baby or by expressing or pumping it.
Symptoms in a baby are obvious in the first few days as lactose in the mother's milk increases. These may include dehydration, severe jaundice, illness, persistent vomiting and very poor weight gain. Medical tests may be needed to identify the cause of the problem so appropriate treatment can be given.