Here’s a question from Kirsten in Waterloo, ON:

Q: I don’t want to ask a silly question, but I’m worried about the way my breastmilk looks. I’ve been regularly pumping for my 4-month-old son, and when I store the milk in the fridge, it separates into a creamy substance on the top, and the rest looks almost watery. When my neighbour saw my milk in the fridge, she said my milk looks “thin”. Should I be worried?

A: Thanks for your question, Kirsten – NO question is a silly question, and if you’ve had this question, you can be sure that many others have had the same one! The good news is that your breastmilk is perfectly normal. People often expect human milk to look like cow’s milk, but human milk is uniquely designed to meet the needs of human babies and has a very different appearance from cow’s milk. The cream does tend to rise to the top when bottled- just give it a shake after you’ve warmed the bottle in a bowl of warm water before feeding.

Originally posted 2013-11-08 14:00:58.

Here’s a question from Sandy in Ingersoll, Ontario:

Q: If I’m unable to breastfeed immediately, how long can I keep my expressed breastmilk in the refrigerator? And if I take it in a cooler, how many hours is it safe to use?

A: Good question, Sandy! Here’s a handy guide for the safety of expressed breastmilk:

• Room temperature (less than 25 degrees C) for 6-8 hours
• Refrigerator (<4 degrees C) for 5 days
• Freezer of a 2-door refrigerator (-18 degrees C) for 3-6 months
• Freezer of a deep freezer – chest or upright (-20 degrees C) for 6-12 months
• When travelling, carry expressed breastmilk in cooler bag with ice packs and use within 24 hours

 

Nancy Lahn RN
Developer of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2015-04-07 16:35:44.

Here’s a question from Hillary D. in Hamilton, ON:

Q: My son is now just over 3 months old. He’s been nursing well every 4 hours, but this week he’s been fussy and only settles when I feed him, and that has been every 2 hours instead of every 4. My neighbour said the same thing happened to her, and that it means I’m losing my milk supply! Is this true? Help!

A: No worries, Hillary – it sounds like your son is experiencing a very normal growth spurt! All you need to do is feed him on demand. Your body will respond by making more milk – it’s a perfect “supply-and-demand” system! After a few days, your supply will increase to meet his demand, and you will settle back into a longer spacing between feedings. For now, feed on demand and get lots of nutritious food and fluids yourself!

Originally posted 2014-07-30 13:33:53.

Here is a question from Carrie in Richmond Hill, ON:

Q: I wonder if you can help me with a question I have – I’m expecting my first child in August and plan to breastfeed. I like to go to the gym and some friends there told me that I should wait several hours after exercising to breastfeed, as the milk could be harmful to the baby. Is this true?

A: Breastfeeding mothers receive lots of strange (and wrong) advice and this is a good example of that! Absolutely not – there is no reason to delay breastfeeding after exercise. And by the way, good for you that you’re continuing to stay fit in pregnancy! Don’t exercise to the point of pain or discomfort, but a healthy level of fitness will benefit you in childbirth and a quicker recovery afterwards.

Nancy Lahn RN

Developer of the Cozy Cuddles Nursing Pillow

Originally posted 2016-06-24 12:43:41.