Why does breast milk get chunky
On the keeping up with production front, it was suggested to me that I pump about 20 minutes BEFORE at least one regular feeding like at bedtime for example after the first month or so.
It increases production to have so much demand all at once. Just an idea to try. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Breast milk looks curdled. Ask Question. Asked 9 years, 4 months ago. Active 6 years, 8 months ago.
Viewed k times. Improve this question. If it doesn't seem rancid and you've followed proper storage guidelines which you have, breast milk can last at room temperature up to 10 hours and in the fridge up to days , then as long as it doesn't seem sour it's fine.
The link there has information on causes of breakdown in breast milk. Lots of different "guidelines" that range between 2 days in the fridge to 10 days. That's a big difference! But I like the smell test. I was never one to toss food just because it was past the expired date. The cream layer contains all of the fat and proteins. You may even notice that the milk takes on a clumpy consistency. At first glance you may think that this milk needs to be tossed, but a simple swirl of the storage container will bring the two layers back together again.
If you're unsure about whether or not your expressed breast milk is still fresh enough to serve to your baby, you can use your nose to help you figure it out. As The Bump mentioned, like cow's milk, spoiled breast milk will have a pretty distinct odor. If the milk has had time to mix with stomach acids, it typically has white chunks and a curdled appearance, similar to the sour milk you get by adding vinegar to milk.
Curdled and lumpy spit-up also may have a sour smell, similar to vomit. This chunky appearance and bad smell are normal, according to Pediatrician Jennifer Shu on HealthyChildren. Some babies are greedy feeders and take in more than their stomachs can handle. Even a breastfed baby spits up when she's had more to eat than she can hold in her stomach. Burping or drooling can also trigger spitting up, as can jostling the baby or putting her down quickly. The immaturity of an infant's digestive tract makes spitting up more common in the early months, but some illnesses can cause spitting up or vomiting.
Approximately half of all babies experience spitting up due to infant reflux, a type of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
This means that if milk comes out or the baby spits up soon as after his feed, the spit up milk may appear just like milk only, however, the milk that stays longer inside the tummy may appear more curdled because it gets mixed up with the stomach acids and appears chunky or curdled. Also, if the baby is only on breastmilk or formula, the curdled spit is likely of whitish hue.
However, red spit up could indicate the presence of blood, and green or yellow spit up could indicate the presence of bile or phlegm, and if any such abnormal coloured spitting up is noticed, it should be reported to the doctor! If your breastfed baby is spitting up curdled milk, it does not mean that you should hit the panic button at once!
You need to know that most babies may spit up curdled milk at least once before they turn three months old. However, you may want to know what is considered a normal scenario in this case and also when should you become concerned! However, if your baby is spitting up the entire contents of his stomach on regular basis and as a result is cranky, not gaining weight , and exhibiting other such symptoms, then it could be a cause of concern and usually not considered normal.
It will be a good idea to visit your doctor to know about the underlying causes of the same. Acid reflux is known to be a painful condition in which acid from the stomach travels up the throat. This condition is very common and can lead a baby to throw up curdled milk.
This condition can be prevented by feeding the baby in an upright position, keeping a tab on how much to feed in one go, by avoiding certain foods while breastfeeding citrus foods, carbonated drinks, spicy foods , etc.
However, as babies grow up, their digestion gets better and they stop spitting up.