Do I need to scald breast milk before freezing?

Understanding the Need to Scald Breast Milk Before Freezing
When it comes to storing breast milk, many parents find themselves navigating a sea of guidelines and recommendations. One common question that arises is whether scalding breast milk before freezing is necessary. The answer largely depends on the individual circumstances surrounding the milk, particularly concerning the presence of high lipase.
What is High Lipase?
High lipase is an enzyme that can affect the taste and smell of breast milk. While lipase is beneficial for breaking down fats in the milk, excessive activity can lead to a soapy or rancid odor, which may deter some babies from drinking it. If you notice that your expressed milk has an unusual smell or taste, it may be due to high lipase levels.
The Role of Scalding
Scalding breast milk involves heating it to a temperature that deactivates the lipase enzyme, thus preventing it from altering the milk’s flavor and aroma. This process is particularly recommended for mothers who have identified that their milk has high lipase and their babies refuse to drink it. By scalding the milk before freezing, you can preserve its quality and ensure that your baby will accept it later on.
Is Scalding Necessary for Everyone?
For many mothers, scalding is not a requirement. If your breast milk does not exhibit signs of high lipase, you can safely freeze it without scalding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidelines on breast milk storage, emphasizing that milk can be stored in the freezer for about six months, with a maximum of twelve months if necessary.
However, if you have concerns about the taste or smell of your milk, or if you have previously experienced issues with your baby rejecting stored milk, scalding may be a prudent step to take.
How to Scald Breast Milk
If you decide to scald your breast milk, the process is straightforward. You can use a stove top or a bottle warmer to heat the milk until it reaches about 180°F (82°C), then cool it quickly before freezing. This method effectively deactivates the lipase without compromising the nutritional value of the milk.
Conclusion
In summary, whether you need to scald breast milk before freezing it depends on the individual characteristics of the milk and your baby’s preferences. If high lipase is a concern, scalding is a beneficial step to ensure your milk remains palatable for your baby. For those without such concerns, freezing breast milk directly is perfectly acceptable. Always prioritize your baby’s needs and preferences when making decisions about breast milk storage.

Can you put freshly pumped breast milk in the freezer after?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to four days in clean conditions. However, it’s optimal to use or freeze the milk within three days. Deep freezer. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

Why won’t my baby drink my frozen breast milk?

High lipase in stored milk is to blame!
Babies will often take parents by surprise when they refuse previously frozen milk but drink freshly pumped without an issue.

What is the best method for freezing breast milk?

You can use large silicone freezer bags, like Stasher bags, or large ziptop bags that are designed for the freezer. For long term storage (4-6+ months), we recommend transferring to a vacuum-sealed bag to keep the breast milk as fresh as possible.

Can you pump into the same bottle all day?

Can you pump into the same bottle all day? Yes, you can pump into the same bottle within a 4-hour timeframe if the milk is kept at room temperature after pumping.

Does scalding breast milk destroy nutrients?

Scalding should be done to your freshly expressed milk prior to storing it. To scald milk, the goal is to heat it to where bubbles form but to avoid boiling it. If you heat the milk for too long and it boils, you can destroy the nutrients.

Is salty breast milk safe for babies?

No, it will never harm your baby. Some babies and children may refuse to breastfeed, but your breast milk will not harm them, and you don’t need to pump and dump or wait. If the salty taste is caused by mastitis, your breast milk will return to its usual taste as it resolves.

What is the 6 6 6 rule for breastmilk?

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.

Why does my frozen breast milk taste bad?

Be that as it may, the temperature range of typical domestic freezer is generally −18°C to −20°C and human breastmilk frozen storage at home is not usually pasteurized before freezing, and so the rancid-flavor development of breastmilk due to lipolysis is generally inevitable under the typical frozen-storage regime.

Do you have to scald breastmilk before freezing?

Eliminate lipase-induced milk changes during freezing – If you find during test freezing that your milk changes smell or taste and your baby won’t drink it, you can scald your fresh milk before you freeze it. Scalding milk after it has been frozen will not correct the odor/taste problem.