Q: I am a mother of twin babies and they are now almost 80 days old. I am expressing my milk and feeding them as I am on work also. The question is - 1. what are the conditions where this expressed milk can be harmful to babies and what precautions should I take to store and use this; 2. as I have to go to work, when can I start top feeds for my babies and how many times a day are they to be given?

A:A mother under normal circumstances should be able to have enough milk for her twin babies. You are doing the right thing by expressing breast milk and giving the same to your babies. Express your breast milk in a clean sterile container and this milk can be kept at the room temperature safely for six hours and in the referigerator but not in the freezer for 24 hours. If the babies are gaining weight adequately there is no need for you to supplement with top feeds now may be till they are 4 months old when supplemental semi-solid cereals can be gradually introduced.