What happens if my baby drinks spoiled breastmilk?

0
1224
What if my baby drinks spoiled breastmilk?

Breastfeeding looked like the best option when I was pregnant with my first boy. Once he was born, I realized how difficult a journey it is to be a mother who exclusively breastfeeds her newborn. However, my boy did not wean himself until his second birthday. 

When I went back to work, I pumped and stored breastmilk for him. My biggest worry was that my breastmilk might spoil somehow, and his babysitter might accidentally feed him the spoilt breastmilk. This fear continued till my youngest self weaned. I am sure many breastfeeding mothers have the same fear. 

Pumping and storing breastmilk takes time. But if one thing goes wrong breastmilk can spoil fast. It is not easy for newly breastfeeding mothers to find out whether stored breastmilk has gone bad. Even if you have breastfed before, you will spend a good deal of time looking at the breastmilk bottles to ensure freshness.

 Keep reading, and this article will answer your worries. I have also included the tips to store breastmilk properly so there will be fewer chances of spoilage. 

CONTENT

1.   What happens if my baby drinks spoiled breastmilk?

2.   How to identify spoiled breastmilk?

3.   How to prevent breastmilk from spoiling?

4.   What to do with spoiled breastmilk?

1.    What happens if my baby drinks spoiled breastmilk?

Spoiled breastmilk tastes and smells different from normal breastmilk. It is more likely that your baby will spit it out and refuse it again. If your baby somehow drinks expired breastmilk, he will vomit it out.

 Spoiled breastmilk will also cause tummy aches. It is rare to get diarrhea or fever from drinking expired breastmilk. But some babies experience those symptoms too.

Do not panic if your baby starts to vomit after drinking spoiled breastmilk. Most of the time these symptoms go away when expired milk is removed from the body. When vomiting does not seem to stop, contact your pediatrician as it may dehydrate your baby.

If your baby refuses the bottle of breastmilk at once, do not force him to drink it. Check the taste and smell of the breastmilk to confirm whether it is still fresh.

 You do not have to blame yourself if you accidentally feed spoiled breastmilk to your baby. Mistakes happen, and you did not intend to hurt your baby. Follow the right steps to store your breastmilk so such mistakes will not happen again.

2.    How to identify spoiled breastmilk?

Appearance

It is normal for breastmilk to separate after being pumped. The water in breastmilk will sink down while the fatty part of the milk will collect on the top. But, these layers should mix well after shaking the bottle. If you can still see lumps of milk after shaking, it should be thrown away.

Smell

You can apply the smell test to the breastmilk that was refrigerated or stored at room temperature. The smell of breastmilk differs from a mother to another. But, you must be familiar with the smell of your breastmilk. If you think the breastmilk smells different than the usual, never offer it to your baby. In general, spoiled breastmilk will have a sour smell.

Taste

When you cannot decide whether your breastmilk is spoiled by its appearance or smell, you can taste it. Breastmilk will not taste like regular milk. But, it should not be sour or rancid. If your refrigerated breastmilk is sour, throw it away.

Thaw the frozen breastmilk by putting it in the refrigerator overnight or holding it under running warm water.  

What happens if my baby drinks spoiled breastmilk?

3.    How to prevent breastmilk from spoiling?

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends following proper preparation and storage guidelines to assure the quality of breastmilk.

Pumping or expressing breastmilk

Wash your hands well with soap and clean water before every session of pumping or expressing breastmilk. If you are using breastmilk, clean the device well. Replace the parts that should be renewed on time.

Storing breastmilk

Leave little space in the bag or container you store breastmilk as milk expands once it is frozen.

Mark the day and time you pumped or expressed the breastmilk on each bag or container.  

You should use high-quality food-grade bottles that close tightly to store breastmilk.

The door of the refrigerator is not the place to store breastmilk. When you open and close the refrigerator door, the temperature changes. It can speed up the process of spoilage.

Store breastmilk in small portions, as enough for one feed. Immediately freeze breastmilk that you should not use within the next four days.

Below is a brief guideline on how long breastmilk can be stored without going bad.

  • Breastmilk lasts for four hours maximum at room temperature.
  • In a refrigerator, breastmilk will stay fresh for four days.
  • Breastmilk can last up to twelve months in a deep freezer. But it is better to use them before six months.
  • You can carry packs of breastmilk in an insulated box with ice while traveling. But, they will stay fresh only for 24 hours.

Thawing breastmilk

Put the bag or the container of breastmilk into another container with warm water. You can also place it under a flow of warm water. You should never microwave or directly heat breastmilk for any reason.

4.    What to do with spoiled breastmilk?

Baths

Breastmilk nourishes your skin and soothes blemishes. Mix breastmilk into your bath or your baby’s bath instead of throwing it away.

Home remedy

Breastmilk is a remedy to many day-to-day life accidents such as minor cuts, bruises, and scrapes. It can also heal sore nipples, eczema, and diaper rashes. Freeze them into cubes and preserve them for future use. Remember to label them properly to avoid confusion.

Soap

Prepare soap from expired breastmilk so you can use them at home or gift people. There are soap-making kits available for purchase in stores and online. Grab such a kit and follow a Pinterest recipe to reuse those expired bags of breastmilk.

Souvenir

Some artists make handmade souvenirs from breastmilk. Get a pendant or a ring done with your expired breastmilk. It will be a treasure for you and your baby when they grow up.  

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here