Breastmilk Analysis

[Chickadee]

From my experience with breastfeeding, and from reading other comments in the bottlefeeding forum, it seems when bubs aren't thriving some of us end up wondering whether our breastmilk isn't "good enough" for bub to thrive. Or were left believing that it wasn't good enough.

I was wondering whether anyone had ever actually had their breastmilk analysed for nutritional content, or even been offered such a test.

[kamckellar]

it wouldve been nice to have been asked this qu when i consulted 2 lactation nurses when i had probs with my twins.they flourished once on formula tho i still offered the breast.they just didnt want to bf which is why i expressed and bottle fed.but when i returned to work i couldnt handle xp and working and they made no attempt to try to bf so formula it was.i had a good diet and drank loads of h2o so as far as i knew my milk was fine.but it just didnt satisfy the girls and they would need a top up of formula anyway.good qu to ask if you have doubts tho.

[Chickadee]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'm just curious, since it's way too late for me anyways. My mom was also told with my oldest brother that her milk wasn't good enough, and although that was nearly 40 years ago and attitudes have changed, it does make me wonder how much is inherited. And I wish women could be given a better answer than just an assumption that their milk is no good & better use formula!

[madvoice]

I've lately been wondering the same thing. I've just finished a thread on my own concerns. I've never had any problems with breastfeeding but lately what I do have doesn't seem to be enough for my Daughter.

[mimi]

I'm a bit pressed for time so only short response this time!! You might want to read this ... http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html

I don't really think anyone can really say 'Your milk is not good enough' ... tho' I KNOW it IS said!!! usually by doctors, who I might add, are notoriously BAD on baby feeding advice!!
:)

[mimi]

I have not heard of anyone actually having their milk analysed under these circumstances, but obviously it is possible - just don't know how difficult or expensive it would be. When research is conducted and with human milk in milk banks [yes they still operate safely and effectively in many countries!] sometimes BM is analysed, and obviously this has told us much about the composition of BM.

Then again, how accurate would the results actually be in assessing the adequacy of the milk, when we know that BM changes SO much - from birth and through out the baby's life. Even throughout a feed, the milk composition changes. At the beginning of a feed, when your baby is most hungry, the milk s/he receives is high in volume, protein and infection resisting agents and low in fat. As the baby’s sucking slows down near the end of the feed, s/he gets milk that is low in quantity and high in calories and fats - and is essential for satiety.

Milk produced for a premature baby is different,in composition, from milk produced for a full term baby [more protein, sodium etc] Milk of mothers with a premature baby remains high in special fats for up to 6 months - where fats in mothers’ milk, for full term babies, decreases after about one month.

Protein levels in milks are measured by the total nitrogen content in the product. However, beause human milk has protein nitrogens and NON-protein nitrogens [like peptides, nucleotides, free amino acids and urea], the use of ‘total nitrogen content’ [to calculate protein requirements of infants] is not at all correct.

So basically what I am saying is, if they did analyse the milk, what 'guage' would they use to say, 'Well this milk is not good enough'!!?

I have seen research that showed that minerals in BM didn't change much despite mum's intake being inadequate - eg iron levels in milk of anaemic, malnourished women remained the same - and of course there are the sories like the malnourished woman in a prison camp breastfeeding 5 orphans witout a problem??!! So I really wonder how in a well nourished society how we could have so many with milk that is 'not good enough', don't you!!?

I think I recall that fats do change in relation to the diet and Lactation consultants often advise that you eat a high protein diet to increase the 'quality' of the milk.

In rare instances the milk supply may be less than adequate, or a baby's suckling may be inefficient and not removing the milk properly, and if the mum isn't given the correct advice, support and assistance she will not be able to increase her supply ... and my guess is that it is in these cases that the mum is either incorrectly informed, or assumes, that she did not have 'good enough' milk.

Sorry haven't really answered your question adequately - but I agree that mums should not be left thinking that their milk is not good enough, without proper proof!
:)