Lactation Lab Breast Milk Nutritional Analysis Kit - Standard: Tests for Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat, Calcium, Iron, Vitamins A, C and B-12.
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Mina Marshall
> 24 hourGreat, easy to do testing with informative results. Was able to tweak my intake / supplements to improve my milk. Look forward to re testing.
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Tim Chen
> 24 hourDr. Canale contacted me herself and explained my lab results thoroughly. She also gave recommendations as how to increase the Calcium and B12 in my breast milk and what foods to eat so that I can provide the best quality milk for my little one possible. The milk collection kit itself was also easy to use. When it comes to being a Mum and worrying about your baby’s food source, I am happy to have Lactation Lab available to me, to give me valuable information about the quality of my breast milk. M. Chen
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M. Cobos
> 24 hourI was a bit nervous that this would be an annoying process to capture and send in my milk, but Lactation Lab makes it very simple—they send you everything you need (storage for milk, ice pack, postage for return) and all you have to do is express your milk, freeze it, and then drop the package off at the post office. I received my results about a week after sending and it was interesting to see what I could optimize in my diet/supplements to improve my milk. Since I am a pescatarian, I was coming in low in some key areas like iron so now I have the insight to supplement accordingly. I had a few questions about my results and emailed Dr. Canale who responded very promptly, great customer service! There is also a Facebook group where you can ask questions, etc which I am planning to join for continued support. Overall, I highly recommend it!
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Andrea Marcos
> 24 hourI was so thankful to have the opportunity to check out the composition of my milk as I was trying to figure out why my baby was fussy. It could be the flow of milk or it could be that I didn’t have enough fat content. I was able to rule our the composition thanks to the Lactation Lab. It’s a whole process of trial and error and this product helps you evaluate your milk composition, which is one of the few things that you have the option of testing.
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Olivia
> 24 hourI had an amazing experience. It’s a great way to have peace of mind and make sure you are giving your baby the best possible nutrition. The world we live in today is full of contamination and toxins in food and water so this test kit is a good option to see where you stand and how you can adjust your diet to better your health and of course your baby’s. I had a great experience with the team! They get back to you right away via text and email and the email and results are very informative. I would highly recommend it to my friends and family.
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Nancy Medrano
> 24 hourI really liked the insurance that my milk at the end of that content and carbs! It assured me as a mom that I am providing just want my baby needs to be healthy and for her development. The response was very tired and the feedback I received was great to help increase certain deficiencies. I strongly recommend
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Linsay
> 24 hourThis kit is easy to use, with simple instructions and fast results! Everything you need is included in the kit and is very easy to return. I received my results within a few weeks and they were very straightforward. They assess fat, carbohydrates and protein as well as other things your breastmilk. I found out that I could be using more DHA in my diet and was able to take Omega 3 supplements knowing with peace of mind that my daughter was getting what she needed. To my knowledge, this is the only testing kit of its kind and I am grateful I stumbled upon it! I will definitely recommend to friends and anyone I know who is nursing.
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K M
> 24 hourIm so glad I got my breastmilk analyzed through Lactation Lab! As a new mother, you worry about everything so it was interesting to see a full breakdown of my milk. Not only did I receive a full nutritional breakdown, I received a personalized email with the highlights and recommendations. I really appreciated the personal touch and added new vitamins into my daily routine. It was also so easy to receive and send back and I received the results in no time! I will likely be retesting once I add in more vitamins.
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AVS
> 24 hourInformative test from a great little company! I had lactation lab analyze my breast milk to find out how it compares in caloric content and vitamins to the formula that we use to supplement our newborn. The test kit is very easy to use, instructions are clear and simple, and Stephanie and Eric responded promptly and thoughtfully to all of my questions before and after the analysis. The results came back within days and the information contained in my report led me to change my daily vitamin mix.
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Dante Upton PhD
> 24 hourI came about Lactation lab when I was looking for ways to check the quality of my breastmilk. I was feeling a little low as my baby had reflux issues and a sensitive stomach. I was being told by multiple well-wishers to just switch to formula as it was consistent at every feed and probably more nutritious than my breastmilk. I am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian but cutting diary off because of baby’s reflux issues. As it can be seen, with my dietary restrictions I was concerned if I was doing the right thing for the baby. As a scientifically inclined person, I was ecstatic to see that there was a place that answers all my questions quantitatively. So off I went to their website and bought the mid-range kit. The processing and shipping were amazingly fast. I sent the sample right away and was eagerly waiting for the results. I was super excited to know that my breastmilk actually had more calories than formula! The report was very well detailed in each section. It confirmed the doubts I had about certain deficiencies due to my diet. Dr. Stephanie Canale’s analysis, description, and suggestions were rather enlightening. I had no idea that ADA advises B12 supplements for vegetarians!! Attached is a snapshot of the report. The Lactation Lab results gave me the confidence that my breastmilk was nutritious enough for my baby. It helped me and our family understand why it was ok that the baby was consuming less volume when compared to his formula-fed peers. I will be sure to make the changes and retest in a couple of months.
How It Works
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Milk CollectionThe process begins once you receive your kit. Since the nutritional content of your milk can change throughout each pumping session, we recommend collecting a small amount of milk as you pump throughout the day. Note that although diet directly affects the quantity of nutrients present, it can take a week or two them to appear in your milk. |
Ship Sample to Lactation LabYour kit includes everything needed to prepare your sample. We provide all necessary packaging to ship your milk. Once you"ve returned your sample to us (prepaid shipping is included), it takes about a week to process the sample in our state-of-the-art lab facility. |
Once we have completed testing, your results are immediately emailed to you as PDF explaining the importance of each measurement and suggestions for how to help improve the quality of your milk. |
What We Test and Why
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FatsThe amount of fat in milk is related to infant growth. It is essential for the metabolism of vitamins needed for neurodevelopment and is the main source of calories. Increasing dietary fat consumption, especially omega fatty acids, can increase the fat content in breast milk. |
CaloriesThis is a measure of the energy content of the milk. The major contributors are fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It is estimated that a breastfeeding woman should be consuming a minimum of an extra 500 calories per day. |
ProteinIt is estimated that protein supplies 8-10% of a baby’s energy requirements. Proteins are important for immune and neurological function, and are the building blocks for tissues, muscle and bones. Low levels should prompt you to discuss your dietary intake with your doctor. |
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CarbohydratesBreast milk contains unique sugars which help fuel growth and brain development. Lactose is the main sugar in breast milk and it helps decrease the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the stomach. It also helps with the absorption of key nutrients and minerals. |
CalciumThis mineral is important for skeletal structure, essential for cell, muscle and nerve function and for blood clotting. Supplementation can increase calcium levels in milk. Low levels should prompt a discussion with your doctor. |
IronEssential for blood cell production and carries oxygen from lungs to tissues. Low levels have been associated with anemia in mothers. |
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Vitamin ABelongs to a family of compounds called retinoids which are important for vision, bone growth and supporting a healthy immune system. If your levels are low, you should discuss your results with your healthcare provider and assess your intake (diet and supplements). |
Vitamin CAn antioxidant and important building block for collagen and connective tissue as well as iron absorption. Low levels should prompt you to discuss with your healthcare provider. |
Vitamin B12Maintains healthy nerve cells and helps in the production of DNA and RNA, the body"s genetic material. It is important for overall metabolism, formation of red blood cells and for maintenance of the central nervous system. |
Founded by a Family Physician and Mother of Two
Lactation Lab was born out of personal experience as a mother and a doctor
In both her medical practice and when breastfeeding her own children, Dr. Stephanie Canale grew frustrated that no resources existed for testing breast milk. After the birth of her second child, she discovered she had iron-deficiency anemia and hereditarily low B-12 levels, and that her daughter had developed spina bifida. She wondered how things might have been different, had she known exactly what she was feeding her daughter. At that moment, she made it her mission to find a solution that would empower moms with the information she"d wished she had.
As a mother of two, Dr. Canale has a profound passion for helping families. She is a tireless advocate for moms and babies, on a constant quest to develop tools and support for families of all backgrounds and income levels.
Dr. Canale earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from McGill University. She completed her residency training in Family Medicine at UCLA, and joined UCLA Santa Monica in 2010, where she currently practices. She is a member of the American Board of Family Medicine.