How to Tell If Breast Milk Is Not Spoiled

According to the BabyCenter.com, breastfeeding helps protect your child from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), allergies, childhood obesity and other health problems. Using a breast pump to extract milk allows you to store the liquid inside a refrigerator or freezer, giving you the ability to use the milk at a later time. Just as with milk that you purchase at a grocery store, breast milk does have a shelf life. Giving your child sour or spoiled breast milk is not recommended, so you must always inspect milk before giving it to your baby.

Instructions

1

Taste a small portion of the breast milk. Breast milk that has not spoiled still has its original taste, while breast milk that has gone bad has an unmistakable foul taste, similar to spoiled store-bought cow's milk.

2

Smell the bottle or container of breast milk. Milk that has gone bad has a very foul and sour smell that causes you to immediately move your nose away from the container. One sniff is all it takes to know if breast milk is spoiled.

3

Swirl the milk gently for about five to 10 seconds to redistribute the liquid's cream and milk layers. Then inspect the container or bottle, looking for any clumps or solid portions of milk. Discard the milk if you notice any of these clumps. Milk that is just separated into layers, however, is still safe for consumption.