What is High Lipase Milk?
Lipase is a natural enzyme in human milk that helps babies digest fats and absorb nutrients. Some individuals have more active lipase, a condition known as high lipase milk. The higher activity makes the fat in expressed milk break down faster, changing the taste and smell when stored. High lipase milk is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with the milk or the person producing it.
The Flavor and Smell Transformation
The most noticeable sign of high lipase milk is a change in taste and smell. Freshly expressed milk with high lipase tastes and smells normal—typically sweet—but the flavor changes as the fat breaks down during storage.
- Soapy or metallic: This is the common description of high lipase milk's altered flavor, resulting from the breakdown of fatty acids.
- Fishy or rancid: In some cases, the taste can become fishy or rancid, although this is less common than the soapy taste.
The intensity and timing of the flavor change varies. For some, the change may be noticeable after a few hours in the refrigerator. For others, it may only occur after a few days or after freezing and thawing.
High Lipase Milk vs. Spoiled Milk: Key Differences
It is important to tell the difference between high lipase milk and spoiled milk. Mistaking one for the other could mean discarding good milk.
| Feature | High Lipase Milk | Spoiled Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Taste | Soapy, metallic, or sometimes fishy | Sour and unpleasant |
| Smell | Soapy, metallic, or sometimes fishy | Acrid, sour, or rancid odor |
| Safety | Perfectly safe for the baby to consume | Unsafe for consumption |
| Cause | Natural enzyme breaking down fats | Bacterial growth due to improper handling or storage |
| Effect on Baby | May be rejected due to taste preference | Can cause illness |
How to Manage High Lipase Milk
If a baby refuses stored high lipase milk, there are several ways to prevent or minimize the flavor change.
- Scalding the milk: This involves heating freshly expressed milk to a specific temperature to deactivate the lipase enzyme. Heat the milk in a pot until small bubbles form (around 180°F or 82°C), then cool it quickly in an ice bath. While scalding may slightly reduce some immune properties, the milk remains nutritious.
- Mixing fresh and stored milk: This is often the easiest solution for a baby sensitive to the taste. Mixing stored, high lipase milk with freshly pumped milk can dilute the metallic or soapy flavor and make it more palatable.
- Using milk quickly: If the flavor change doesn't occur for a day or two in the refrigerator, plan to use stored milk before that time. Determine the specific timeline by a simple taste test.
- Serving milk chilled: Some babies accept high lipase milk more readily when it is served cold or at room temperature, as the chilled temperature can help mask the flavor.
- Adding a flavor enhancer (for older babies): For babies over six months who eat solids, adding a drop of alcohol-free vanilla extract or mixing the milk with pureed baby food can help mask the taste.
- Fast-freezing expressed milk: Freezing milk quickly after expression can slow down lipase activity, which sometimes prevents the taste change.
What to Do with Unused High Lipase Milk
Even with preventative measures, there might still be high lipase milk that a baby refuses. This milk can be used in other ways:
- Milk baths: The fat and antibodies in breast milk can be soothing for a baby's skin, especially for conditions like eczema.
- For making solids: Once the baby starts solids, use the milk to prepare baby cereals, purees, and other foods.
- Creating 'milksicles': Freeze the milk into small popsicle molds for a teething baby.
- Milk jewelry: Many businesses make keepsake jewelry from breast milk, a way to remember the breastfeeding journey.
- Donating to a milk bank: Breast milk banks accept high lipase milk for donation as it is safe and nutritionally sound for babies. Contact a local milk bank to see if they accept milk that has already been scalded or has a taste that a baby may refuse.
Conclusion
While a metallic, soapy, or fishy taste and smell may cause concern, high lipase milk is safe for a baby to consume. The taste change is a natural process from accelerated fat breakdown and does not affect the nutritional quality. If the taste causes a baby to refuse stored milk, strategies like scalding fresh milk, mixing stored milk with fresh, or using other methods can help the baby continue to benefit from expressed milk. Understanding high lipase and managing it can save frustration and ensure the baby gets optimal nutrition from breast milk.
Understanding High Lipase Milk: What It Is and What You Can Do
