[MommyDee]

Okay, I've googled this and only got answers about frozen breastmilk... I noticed several days ago that there was a metallic odor to my bm when I expressed some onto a towel during a heavy letdown; DH noticed the same smell after Damian nursed earlier this evening. We are being treated for thrush, but I can't find anything linking it to that, and I don't remember anything like it when I was nursing Gabriel either. I'm stumped, what could be causing it?

[twinzplus3]

Sour milk? This is the only thing that I'm aware of that causes that metallic smell (well okay. . .other than metal poisoning maybe? and even then. . .). Some people describe the smell as soapy. I really need to get back in and edit the article bc it almost makes it seem like the milk is bad--but it's not the case. This only really happens with expressed milk--and it's not a problem for your baby to drink--it won't harm her. I'm not aware of antibiotics would make the problem worse but it wouldn't cause it.

[MommyDee]

I've heard that excessive exercise can sometimes cause your milk to sour, but I haven't been doing that lol. No clue on this one!

[twinzplus3]

You'd probably have to run several miles before that would happen. What that is, is a build up of lactic acid which of course, increases while you exercise. It makes your milk sour for a little while and I suppose if you're in training for a marathon or something, maybe it'd make it sour like that for awhile.

[DK615617]

If your milk does tend to sour quickly when it is stored in the fridge for just 24 hours, is that form too much lactic acid? Is there anything that you can do to change that? Especially if you didn't exercise.

[KR258]

Mine used to do the same thing

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by DK615617

If your milk does tend to sour quickly when it is stored in the fridge for just 24 hours, is that form too much lactic acid? Is there anything that you can do to change that? Especially if you didn't exercise.

No it couldn't be. Sometimes (it doesn't even bother all babies) if you try to nurse right after exercising the build up of lactic acid in your breat milk will make the baby reject the breast. You wait a few hours and then all should be fine. If you were to pump right after exercising--you would never be able to tell that your milk has "too much" lactic acid.

OTOH too much lipase (which is not horribly common) will actually curdle the milk eventually. It digests the fat. . .it is the only thing that I'm aware of that causes a metallic smell (some describe it as soapy). For some women, the pumped milk can't even sit out long enough to get into a storage container and into the freezer. For other women it can't thaw. . .and for still others it's just a faint smell after they pump but the baby doesn't reject it and the milk is fine. This is really only a problem if your baby rejects the milk. Although I have to say I'm not sure if it was smelling rancid that I'd feed it to my baby.

[DK615617]

I haven't seen Tiffany reject much as far as food goes. But I was afraid that it would give her a big belly ache. (this was several months ago, she was only about 6 months old at the time.) Now she only nurses 3 or 4 times a day, so I don't have to pump anymore! And I don't miss it either.
Here is another one Val, a little off topic for this thread, but with baby #2 do most women who weren't able to pump much the first time around have better luck with the 2nd one?
I could never pump more than 2 ounces at a time, and judging by how chunky Tiffany was I know she was getting more than that.
But, it was so hard for me to go teach for 5 hours and leave only 2 or 4 ounces behind. I hope with next baby my body decides to help out!!!
Is there hope?

[twinzplus3]

Yes and no. Tell you what, I'll answer in a blog when I get home from church later.

[DK615617]

Thank you Val, I'll be sure to read it.