My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

DS is 6 months old and EBF. I work 10-12 hours a week so I pump while I am at work plus I pump once before bed. If I am away for a feeding I pump. I have an oversupply so I pump more than he takes in. I have about 300 oz in the freezer and it tastes like soap!!!

He started solids 2.5 weeks ago and these past few days he's refusing the oatmeal. I tasted it yesterday and it was gross! Tasted like soap. Some days I'd use "freshly" pumped mik (like today) and he ate the oatmeal fine.

He's been fussy when he gets a bottle lately also (my mom says) and I wonder if it's the soapy taste.

What do I do now?

I can't bear the thought of having to throw away all that frozen BM. I had to overcome so many obstacles to successfully BF my DS only to now have to deal with this. I almost can't deal. I'm so sad about it. I took some comfort in knowing that if I stopped BF (my chronic migraines have made a comeback so I've entertained the thought), he'd have some BM for a while.

I read that going forward I can scald the milk (bc of the high lipase) but I can't do that at work. It would only work with my bedtime pumping session. What about what I have in the freezer?

Do I try mixing the frozen BM with formula to see if it masks the soapy flavor and he takes it? (i'm not anti-formula, my 1st DS was FF). I guess I could mix the oatmeal with formula. Is it possible to donate the frozen milk? Is there any way to salvage my freezer stash? Help.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I dumped mine.
Same issue.
I never pumped with DC2.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Honestly..I'd throw out the frozen milk...this happens to some women, and the taste seriously is like soap-I wouldn't want to make my child eat or drink something that tasted that way! As you know, its from an enzyme being improperly broken down and isn't an issue until its frozen and thawed.

I would either give whatever you're able to pump at work (if you continue) or just go to formula. This is a situation where I don't think any potential benefits of breastmilk are really helpful if it tastes terrible..

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I think this is perfectly normal? I remember frozen BM smelling much different than regular. If you're worried the composition of it has changed, that's one thing. But I don't think babies care about taste, have you ever smelled/tasted formula?

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Posted by melbalalala

I think this is perfectly normal? I remember frozen BM smelling much different than regular. If you're worried the composition of it has changed, that's one thing. But I don't think babies care about taste, have you ever smelled/tasted formula?

My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I would continue to feed it to him unless he flat-out refuses it.

You can also make baby cereal with water. I would boil a batch and cool it, and keep it on the counter for cereal.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

why cant you scald all the milk when you get home from work? kellymom says to scald as soon as possible, but if immediately is not an option, give it a try. how long has been drinking your pumped milk? if he's been drinking it with no issues, i'd continue to give it to him and chalk his fussiness up to something else. there's nothing wrong with drinking milk with high lipase, as long as the child is willing to do so. if not, you can donate it to another child who doesnt mind. i think sophia's mom always accepts donations.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

There's nothing wrong with the milk so I wouldn't toss it. Try mixing some of the frozen with fresh to dilute it. And as a PP said, you can use water with the oatmeal.

If you really feel like LO won't drink it no matter what you do, I would donate it. It would be such a waste to toss all that BM!


By the way- did you put the milk straight into the freezer or did it go fridge to freezer? I heard that straight to freezer can cause the soapy issue.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I'd try scalding the milk when you get home from work and see if that helps. With the frozen, I'd try 3/4 fresh and 1/4 frozen and see if he'll take it. Try different amounts. If he won't take it at all, then I'd toss it.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I have high lipase. My DS takes my frozen milk no problem even though I think it smells and tastes soapy/plasticky. The milk itself is fine, but scalding it is also an option.

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I think I had this with my DD but never knew it was "high lipase" and that it was something that can happen, I always just thought I was doing something wrong w/defrosting it.

Is there a way to prevent high lipase, like through modifying diet?

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Thanks everyone for all of the info. He took a bottle of frozen pumped milk today. It was milk pumped yesterday and immediately frozen. Maybe more recent milk is better tasting. I may try giving him some "newer" frozen milk and also some older frozen milk (have some from January I think) and see if he takes one more readily than the other. And I'm going to stop swirling the milk when it's separated.

I find Bfing my DS so stressful. And now this milk issue has my resolve to BF wavering. DS is growing and gaining well as he's 6 months and almost 21lbs but ugh, I hate never knowing how much he's getting. He nurses for 3 minutes a side and then is done. He's so distracted. But that's another post.....

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

Re: My breastmilk tastes like soap! Help. Don't want to dump my freezer stash:(

I'm with you on the BFing thing. I had a love hate (mostly hate hehe) relationship with it though I did EBF my DS till he weaned at 14 months because it was important to me and I was able to do it. I always worried about the amount he was getting, he was always distracted and I had to throw away all of my stash at 14 weeks because he developed a MPI so I had to go dairy free and throw out all my "tainted" milk. Also I had the same Lipase issue (tasted just like soap) though my DS didn't seem to mind to much and I always sent frozen/defrosted milk to daycare for him. I did find that the faster I froze it after pumping (vs keeping it in the fridge for a few days then freezing) the better it smelled/tasted when defrosted. Any milk that sat in the fridge longer the 2 days had the soapy taste. I think it only tasted "fresh" the first 24 hours or so so I would try to freeze it right away. Obviously you are doing a great job and keep reminding yourself of the gift you are giving your DC (especially on the days you just want to know your kid ate 30oz and is all set)