Is there really NOTHING one can do about excess lipase?

[turtle23]

Over the last two months I have been expressing and freezing a bit so that there is an emergency supply. Couldn't be bothered to express milk for Ds's porridge this morning so got some out of the freezer. It stinks. It all does. What a waste. It is all fishy which I know means excess lipase and you're meant to scald it but that just seems a bit silly. If there is nothing one can do I suppose I will just have to live with it and never go out.

I've never heard of that, but I have to admit I never used the milk I froze because it just didn't look right. I thought I'd frozen it wrong.

Colief (a colic remedy) works by tackling lipase so I suppose in theory mixing a little Colief into the milk before freezing it might stop the problem. I've never heard of anyone doing it, though.

Colief breaks down lactose...lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats so isn't the same thing. Thank you for the suggestion, though. x

Turtle you have just solved my 'fishy' milk problem. DD refused any of my milk that had been frozen. It smelt all fishy and I could never understand why. I tried different freezer, bags, containers etc and never solved the problem.

You're quite right; never used it myself but I'm sure a friend who did told me it reduced lipase content. Goes to show you should never believe what you hear without checking first...

turtle, did you try giving your ds the milk? If the baby doesn't object to it, it will do him no harm.
I used to go onto the LLL forums and one lady there found that when she stopped putting flaxseed on her food, the lipase problem improved. Only one case and probably not helpful if you don't use flaxseed but might give a clue as to what you need to do diet-wise?

I had this problem and DD refused any frozen milk completely. I had 6 litres (yes, LITRES) frozen from when she was in SCBU, and it all had to go down the drain

I have discovered that I have excess lipase in my milk this time, but didn't have it with ds1.

There seems to be a link between calcium and other minerals and lipase production. I don't really know very much about it though, you would need to google.

I have stopped taking my calcium supplement to see if it makes any odds.

Why does scalding seem silly? I tried it on some of mine and it seemed to work ok. Sure, it's a PITA but it will allow you to store milk..

I had this problems with ds3 but not ds4. Galena, ds3 was prem too and I wonder whether either my milk production was affected by it or whether prem babies are just likely to be fussy little feckers darlings. He has stayed very stubborn all his life, he's now 5.

I have just discovered (for those who'd like to know) that metals in tapwater can activate the lipase. Apparently rinsing equipment with distilled water is the answer. And storing in hard plastic or even better- glass. I love the internet!

btw I tried giving this morning's cereal to DS1 to taste and he just spat and said FISHBANANA! It was a rather rank combo.

Turtle- did you get my msg sent via fb?

And I only meant that as a single parent with little support (tho how would you know that?!) who may never even use the EBM it seemed very labour-intensive to sterilise, pump, scald, cool, freeze, defrost for a feed he may not even take.

I did, Ghost. I hope DD is ok. Catch up soon. xxxxx

why is scalding it silly?

i had the same problem, and i just scalded all the milk before i froze it, it wasn't an issue

god i never did all that.

pump, scald freeze.
it's only one extra thing"

ok, so is only one extra thing. Just makes it less appealing somehow. I will stay in and use it as an excuse for nobody to babysit.

I too have high lipase but mine kept fine in the fridge for 3 days

I pumped at work for 6m and Friday's milk was still ok for Monday, iyswim

This may sound really daft...but if you have high lipase with one and not the other D did they have different body types? My Ds2 (didn't have this with DS1) is a...how shall I say...HEALTHY looking baby. I wonder if it has anything to do with fat-related enzymes? (Stupid emoticon)

one not other DC

I had the same problem. It was gutting throwing all the milk I'd pumped away (I didn't use it for a couple of months and was merrily building it up without realising I had this issue). But after scalding, it was fine. As TIY says, it's just one more thing to do. To be honest, the thought of it is more of a hassle than actually doing it.

I know I am being a bit dense, but how exactly do you scald the milk? DH wondered if this might destroy much of the goodness in BM? Also do you have to do it immediately after pumping otherwise the milk will have been cooled then in effect heated, then frozen?

scalding

Bumble, it does mean the milk is not quite as good as fresh EBM but it is still better than formula.

I know than some women on LLL used to use a bottle warmer to scald the milk if they were expressing in work or out and about.