Having your milk tested

[PE&M]

I would like to have my milk tested/analyzed for calorie & fat content. How would I go about this?

TIA

[MaryJaneLouise]

Why are you concerned about this? Is your LO having trouble gaining weight?

[kiara7]

I've heard of this, but don't really know much about it.

Why do you feel the need to get it tested? Everyone's milk is more or less the same.

[PE&M]

I have a 27 weeker who is now 11 mons chronologically. She weighs 10 lbs 2 oz & is 22 1/4 inches long. She was maintaining her weight & now she's losing. We've tried many options. The ped is now suggesting to switch to formula for a couple weeks to see if that helps, thinking my milk isn't high enough in calories. I don't want to give her formula, so if I could just get my milk tested there would be no question. She goes in Friday for bloodwork, urine test, stool tests, EKG, Ultasound, & X-Ray.

I nursed my older dd until she self weaned at 29 mons. She's very healthy & never had weight issues.

[kiara7]

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mi...e-milkfat.html

The research tells us that baby's milk intake (the volume of milk - not the amount of fat in that milk) is the only thing that has been correlated with infant growth in exclusively breastfed babies. As noted earlier, average fat content of human milk is highly variable, but has not proven to be significant when calculating baby's total energy intake or weight gain. (Aksit 2002, Butte 1984, Cregan 1999, Mitoulas 2003, Mitoulas 2002.)

Might want to show your doctor that. Obviously if you've bf'ed before your milk is just fine. There might be other issues. Someone else might chime in with other suggestions.

[RunnerDuck]

I have heard that some NICUs can check fat/calorie content of breast milk. There's a machine they use... it has a funny name... it escapes me now. Something I read about when I was early on nursing my girls. I would call a NICU or local LC and see if they know anything about it...

[smanore]

What the pp is talking about is a creamatocrit. It measures how much fat is in the breastmilk. I'd strongly suggest the op contacts an LC. My ears always prick up when the breastmilk is being questioned as not good enough. Please let us know how this goes for you.