Colostrum

It pays to have thousands of eyes and minds helping.  As Hope hummed along, we read your emails complete with references, excepts, and experiences from nursing mothers.  Here are examples.

As a former Lactation Consultant and longtime breastfeeding educator, I do know that colostrum, in humans, can be expressed well before giving birth. It sometimes leaks and crusts on the nipples.  Although breast milk composition differs among species, the biological mechanism is about the same.  I would imagine that colostrum is attracting Hope to the nipple.........that, and the fact that she was weaned abruptly during the separations from Lily.  —Joanne M. Schwab

Even if a human mother is breast-feeding an older child, the milk will adapt to a newborn baby as the birth date approaches. The baby will still get enough colostrum.  I don’t think you have to worry about the newborn cubs getting enough colostrum.  —Miriam Somers, The Netherlands

During pregnancy, human mothers usually produce colostrum by 25 to 26 weeks.  For me, it didn't come in fully until I gave birth to twins at 27weeks.  Humans produce milk based on demand.  With my twins it was much higher, etc.  So if Hope is already helping increase Lily's supply, she should have a bunch once she gives birth.  —Kelly Ibrahim

In my personal experience, I couldn’t get much milk when I pumped or tried self expressing, but my son got more than enough due to a strong let down when he nursed.  I think Hope has been getting something all along.  Even if she’s not, comfort nursing is important. For some women, colostrum is available, even leaking, before the baby is born. I don’t blame Hope for nursing.  Colostrum is the most concentrated form of breastmilk.  We breastfeeding moms call it liquid gold. Here is a link to more information http://www.llli.org/FAQ/colostrum.html .  I believe there will be enough milk for the newborns, even with Hope nursing.  It’s good for all the babies to be nursing.  —Erika Iverson

Humans produce colostrum well before birth and many pregnant women actually leak.  As you may know, tandem nursing, while possible, is not as common in humans.  Though one of the complaints of older nurslings is changes in the milk.  Hope that helps!  —Robin Elise Weiss, CLC, LCCE http://pregnancy.about.com

It is very likely Lily is making colostrum. In humans, milk is created within the breasts about half-way through the pregnancy. Some mothers notice leaking and some do not. In pregnant mothers who are nursing an older child, often the nursing child will comment on the change in the milk from mature milk (what the child was previously receiving) to the colostrum-type milk. Colostrum does not immediately flood the breasts with the birth of the baby, it is ready and waiting for the baby's birth. Within a few days after the birth the milk turns into mature milk.  — Ashley Benz, Certified Lactation Counselor, BHS, LCCE www.louisvillebreastfeedinghelp.com

Lily might have sore mammary glands that are starting to make colostrums, but I am not sure what impact her continued nursing has on that.  —Josephine O'Ryan

Comment from us.  When we heard Lily blow as if something was wrong, could it have been that she has sore mammary glands and/or that Hope bit too hard while suckling?

Thank you for the help, including phone numbers and references for more information for when we formally write about this.

Today, Jason went to the shed to brush snow off the solar panels and figured out what makes the terrible intermittent whine.  On sunny days, when the solar panels are producing a lot of electricity, the charge controller buzzes.  He could hear it buzzing in the shed today.  At Bill Rice’s suggestion, he disconnected it, and the whine stopped.  He connected it, and it resumed.  We may be on track to get rid of the whine, hopefully tomorrow, so we can clearly hear any peep from the new cubs.

Things are also coming together for the Ted and Lucky Den Cam so we can compare their inactivity with Lily and Hope’s activity.

If anyone is watching in northern Alabama, email WHNT Reporter Beth Jett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to share your thoughts with the Tennessee Valley.

As part of the Education Outreach Program, would anyone be interested in developing computer games to teach about bears?  The idea is to bring computer skills into the learning environment while teaching about bears.  Someone suggested that PLAY stands for Purposeful Learning Activities for Youngsters.  Does anyone out there have the skills to turn bear.org information into computer activities that would engage students?  This could be used in classrooms, libraries, and kiosks at the North American Bear Center.  If interested, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you for all you do.

—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists. Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center