Ever Wonder About the Nutritional Content of Your Breast Milk? Now You Can Find Out!

I have two questions for you. Are you a breastfeeding mama? Do you ever read the label on your food before you eat it? I do both.

Now, I am no expert on either, but just a concerned mom who wants the best for her little one. Wouldn’t it be nice if your breast milk had a nutrition label so you knew exactly what your little one was getting in each meal? Lactation Lab does just that.

Breast Feeding Isn’t Easy

Breastfeeding is not easy. I always thought breastfeeding was going to be a natural and beautiful journey. Turns out it was a rocky and painful road for both me and my son. I had all the hottest breastfeeding supplies and lots of support, but I was so close to giving up. 

I had people tell me, are you sure you eat healthy enough to breastfeed? Isn’t formula more well-balanced than breast milk? and How can you be sure he is getting what he needs from your milk?

The concerns of others made me question my choices about exclusively breastfeeding.  It wasn’t until I knew just how beneficial my milk was that I finally had the strength to continue without reservations.

Lactation Lab Overview

Lactation Lab, is like nothing I’ve ever seen before for breastfeeding moms. Created by a doctor and mother of two,  Lactation Lab analyzes your breast milk for basic nutritional content like calories and protein, as well as vitamins, fatty acids, and environmental toxins.

Results are then emailed directly to you in a user-friendly report that reads like a food label, just like a nutrition label on your favorite food.

The results also explain how your results affect your child, offer suggestions for enhancing the quality of your milk and provide the option for a personal consultation.

Knowledge is Power

By offering insights, resources, and support, Lactation Lab inspires confidence in moms by providing information based on hard science and academic research. When moms know the quality of their milk, they’ll feel empowered to breastfeed longer, all with less stress and more enjoyment.

How Lactation Lab Works

1. Milk Collection

The process begins once you receive your kit. Since the nutritional content of your milk can change throughout each pumping session, they recommend collecting a small amount of milk as you pump throughout the day. Your kit includes everything needed to prepare and ship your sample including prepaid shipping within the USA.

I took a little bit of milk from 2 different pumpings on 2 different days. I needed 60 ML total to be shipped for analysis. You send it frozen with ice packs they provide, but it does not need to stay frozen. It just helps to reduce the likelihood of leaks.

2. Lab Analysis

Once they receive your sample, it is processed in their state-of-the-art lab facility. Results for Basic or Standard Kits are available in about a week. Premium kits require up to three weeks to fully process the additional fatty acid and toxin tests included. Lactation Lab offers three different testing kits, starting at just $99.

3. Your Results

Once they have completed testing, a full PDF report (click here to download a sample) with your lab results and dietary recommendations is immediately emailed to you, explaining the importance of each measurement and suggestions for how to help improve the quality of your milk.

Your PDF report can easily be shared with your doctor, lactation consultant, doula or other healthcare providers.

What They Test

Lactation Lab provides breastfeeding mamas with the tools they need to monitor and improve the long-term health of her and her breastfed child(ren). The test focuses on 14 key nutrients, fatty acids, and toxins that are most impactful for your child’s growth and development. The tests safeguard against exposure to heavy metals and other harmful toxins while offering helpful dietary and nutritional guidance.

Nutrients

1. Fats
2. Calories
3. Vitamin A
4. Carbohydrates
5. Vitamin B12
6. Iron
7. Protein
8. Vitamin C
9. Calcium
10. DHA Omega-3 
11.  Arsenic
12. Cadmium
13. Lead
14. Mercury

My Lactation Lab Results

I loved that my email was personally sent to me, from a medical doctor. It was not a generic copy-and-paste email with vague suggestions or advice. It told me exactly what my numbers were. Here is an example from my results:

Calories: The average calorie count for a standard infant formula sold in the U.S. is 20 kcal/oz. Yours was 18.6 kcal/oz. I would recommend increasing your daily intake by 300-500 calories per day and make sure you are drinking the equivalent of 8x (8oz.) glasses of water each day.” This is specific and clear telling me exactly what I need to do.

Another example was this. “B12: You may want to consider having your level checked the next time you see your doctor. I would also check to see how much is in your current vitamin. Most pre and post-natal vitamins have 8-12 mcg and if you choose to take a supplement, I would recommend 1000 mcg daily.”

This one concerned me because this means both me and my son are short on this vitamin. I like that she recommends that I follow up with my doctor, which must mean that this is a valid concern that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. 

The email has a brief overview of some of the “key” results. Then it included a well-organized,  colorful 15-page PDF. This broke down each item tested, a graph, my results, and detailed recommendations. There was also a link on where to find and purchase the doctor’s recommended vitamins and supplements. 

Related Resources

Did you have a good support system while breastfeeding? Comment below to tell me about your experience. If you are looking for support, I personally love the Dairy Queens Breastfeeding Support Closed Group on Facebook. Also check out Kelly Mom for a lot of great, reliable information.

If you’re looking to increase your milk content, check out this lactation cookies recipe. If you’re regularly pumping and need a way to store your breastmilk, check out this DIY easy breast milk storage system.