By Alanna Iacovetti
Photo by Dylan Nolte for Unsplash
You might’ve noticed some small water droplets on your inner chamber as you take it out to add more milk throughout the day. What does that mean? Is it safe? Let’s get down to the science of why this happens, and why it’s completely normal!
What is condensation?
Condensation is the process in which water vapor becomes liquid and collects as droplets on a cold surface. It’s the change of the state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase.
To break it down, condensation occurs when warm air collides with cold surfaces, or when the air around you is too humid. When the moisture-packed warm air comes in contact with a cold surface, it cools down quickly and releases water onto the chilly surface!
Condensation on your inner chamber
After adding milk
Condensation on your inner chamber after adding milk to the Chiller is *completely* normal. That water is actually coming directly from your breast milk as it comes in contact with the cold ice chamber. Fun fact: breast milk is over 85% water, and those water droplets are essentially just mixing back into where it came from!
Before adding milk
If you notice condensation before adding any milk to the Chiller, that means that there’s humid air in the outer chamber. When the humid air comes in contact with the cold inner ice chamber, it condenses to form water droplets on the chamber. The water isn’t coming from the inner chamber itself, but from the moisture that is naturally present in the air. It’s the same moisture-packed air that we breathe every day.
This is a normal scientific process, but we understand why water droplets in your Chiller would look concerning. Rest assured — the water content of breastmilk varies greatly, and a few droplets of water from the atmosphere are not going to dilute it.
Foremilk = thinner, more watery
Hindmilk = thicker, fattier
What can you do if you notice condensation before adding any milk?
If you live in a humid area, condensation might be hard to prevent. It helps to make sure that your parts are fully dried and stored in a cool place - you can even put the parts in the fridge between uses! You can also wipe off your inner chamber before adding milk to the Chiller.
As always, please reach out to us if you feel that something isn’t working as it should.