Now let’s talk about some babies! Female Blue whales give birth only when they are in warm water not cold. Within minutes of birth, a calf swims to the top with it’s mommy for air. “Well I mean you have to live somehow right?” The calf and it’s mommy have a strong bond. They remain together for many months while the calf drinks milk & gains over 200 pounds. After about a year or so it leaves its mother & moves on so it can be independent. Baby Blue whales called calves weigh more than 5,000 pounds when they are born. Family life is important to them.