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About Sally Wendkos Olds
Expertise
What do you want to know about breastfeeding? I can tell you what`s good for the baby, what`s good for the mother -- and the father, how it`s related to a woman`s sexuality, how working moms can nurse, how to overcome obstacles, and lots more. As the author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING and author or coauthor of 8 other books and more than 200 articles about child and adult development, I can offer sound, sensible advice on breastfeeding, child care and family issues.

Experience
I nursed my 3 daughters and am the grandmother of 5 breastfed children. My book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING (written in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, M.D.) was first published in 1972, and in 1999 came out in an updated 3rd Edition by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books. It is now a classic, with over 2 million copies in print. I am now revising this book for a fourth edition, consulting with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D. This new edition will be published September 2009. I welcome any and all suggestions for the new edition. I coauthored college textbooks A CHILD'S WORLD: INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, and HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; both are leading texts in their fields and have been read by 2 million students. I am the coauthor of HELPING YOUR CHILD FIND VALUES TO LIVE BY and RAISING A HYPERACTIVE CHILD, and author of THE WORKING PARENTS' SURVIVAL GUIDE & THE ETERNAL GARDEN: SEASONS OF OUR SEXUALITY. My newest book, A BALCONY IN NEPAL: GLIMPSES OF A HIMALAYAN VILLAGE, published in 2002, tells the story of the way of life in a remote village in Nepal, where all the women breastfeed! My book, SUPER GRANNY: COOL PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER GREAT STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS, will be published March 2009. I speak often to professional, parent and general audiences and make many radio and TV appearances.

Credentials I received my B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where I minored in Psychology, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude.

Other points of interest I have received national awards for my writing, and am a former president of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. I am listed in the World Who's Who of Women, International Authors & Writers Who's Who, and Contemporary Authors, and am a member of several professional and civic organizations. I believe: that all parents are working parents; that parents employed outside the home need special support; that mothers' well-being is crucial to their children's welfare; and that the family is the best institution in the world and the one for which we are least prepared. My thrills come when parents or kids tell me they were helped by my writing or speaking or just understanding. To find out more about me, go to

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Pregnancy/Birth > Breastfeeding > Detecting soured breast milk.

Breastfeeding - Detecting soured breast milk.

Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 11/5/2009

Question
Dear Sally,

After reading your thorough article on breast-milk storage I still have a question.

Is it possible that a few ounces of refrigerated breast milk can go sour in one day?

The following is my situation:

I express about 4 oz every day to create emergency bottles and to maintain my milk supply for such occasions. At times I do not get a full 4 oz in one day so I save the remainder in the refrigerator to be added with the next days milk.

I understand that it is normal for the milk to separate but I always dip a spoon in and taste it to make sure that it has not soured. It never smells bad but sometimes after even one day it has a sour taste that is different from freshly expressed breast milk.

Is it normal for the fats at the top to taste different? Is it possible for the milk from the day before can go sour that quickly? Based on your answer I may need to discard. What a bummer!

Based on your article I plan to chill my milk in the refrigerator before freezing it. I can also store the remaining few ounces in the freezer to await the next days milk that I will also chill before adding.

Answer
Dear Mina,

It sounds as if your expressing and storage of breast milk is going very well. If your refrigerator is working properly and if you refrigerate your expressed milk soon after expressing it, the milk should not go sour in several days. Sometimes it may get a different taste from other foods in the refrigerator, but this doesn't mean that anything is wrong with it. And yes, the fats at the top may taste differently. But from what you've told me, you don't need to discard.

Yes, it's a good idea to chill milk before freezing it, or even before adding it to other chilled milk in the refrigerator.

Best regards,

Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters. Now in revision for a fourth edition, with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D.

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