Some mothers like to store their breast milk for later. Although this can be done, there is the risk of the milk going bad without you noticing it. So if you want to avoid this from happening, you need to be careful and aware of a few things. 

This article is here to help you understand how to properly store the milk and avoid feeding your baby spoiled milk.

Now, what happens if baby drinks spoiled breast milk?

The effects can vary. Most babies will taste the milk and find that it is bad and spit it out. Some babies will drink it and later feel the effects of spoiled milk. This is usually a case of stomach ache, and at times the baby may vomit. Very rarely does spoiled milk cause fever or diarrhea or anything too serious. 

How Do I Know If The Breast Milk Is Spoiled?

It is hard to tell at a glance whether breast milk is spoiled or expired since there are some factors at play. 

While some people say that the color of breast milk is an indicator of whether it is bad or not, that line of thinking is somewhat incorrect. The diet and other physical factors of a mother can affect the color of the milk, and so it doesn’t serve as a proper indicator.

The other way would be to smell the milk. Although spoiled milk can give off a sour smell, most of the time, it is odorless. If you encounter a soapy smell, there is no cause for concern. It is mostly from lipase, which is a natural enzyme in milk and does not cause any sort of harm.

So is there a sure test for this? You could try tasting a small amount of the milk. A rancid or sour taste is a good indicator that it has gone bad. Other than that, there is the swirl test.

Swirl Test

In breast milk, you’ll usually notice two parts of it- fatty milk and watery milk. The fatty milk will generally stay near the top, while the watery one will be at the bottom. In theory, if the milk is good, the two parts will mix after you have swirled them together.

The swirl test, as the name suggests, simply involves swirling the bottle and observing the results. If you find that the two parts have properly mixed, then it is a sign that the milk is good. However, if you end up seeing solid chunks floating about, it is a sign that the milk has gone rotten.

Make sure to swirl for some time and keep observing after some intervals. Big chunks are usually a clear sign, and you shouldn’t feed that milk to your child.

How To Store Breast Milk Properly?

You must know how to store breast milk properly as it can extend the time it remains good. Milk can sour very easily, so some strict measures need to be taken. 

There are also times when due to a dirty or moldy pump, the milk can already be ruined, so make sure to properly clean your pump or hands before pumping breast milk.

Storing Breast Milk

Food-grade bottles are the best way to store your breast milk for later consumption. Make sure the bottles are airtight and have strong lids for better storage. Never keep your bottle of milk outside at room temperature for more than 3 hours as it will not remain stable at that temperature.

You can store the bottle in a refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days at best before it will start to go bad. For longer periods, you will need to make use of a freezer that can store it for up to 5 months.

When storing in the refrigerator, do not keep it close to the refrigerator door or on it as that area experiences the most temperature change, which can end up spoiling your milk faster. Never use direct heat or microwave to thaw out your frozen milk. This can ruin it and damage the nutritional value.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Normal Breast Milk Look?

Most of the time, normal breast milk is white with some small tints of color. This can be usually yellow or blue, but there can be other colors depending on the diet.

Why Is My 7 Month Baby Not Drinking My Expressed Breast Milk?

Usually, this happens if the baby smells something bad with the milk. Often the milk is spoiled, and so the baby refuses it.

Is Drinking Spoiled Milk Dangerous?

Once or twice as a mistake won’t have serious problems. At most, the baby will vomit or have some stomach ache. However, moldy milk can have serious issues if you are not careful with it.

Conclusion

What happens if baby drinks spoiled breast milk? Usually, the baby spits it out or suffers from mild stomach ache. Remember to properly store it as milk can go bad easily without noticing.