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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Emily Richmond
> 3 dayVery pleased with my purchase. My baby is slow to gain weight so it is great to know (and provide the physician) that your milk is perfect (logically I already knew this but love the scientific backing). I received my results and incredibly personalized recommendations by email just 2 days after the sample was received by the lab. I would 100% do this again!
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Ashley Ann
Greater than one weekI am so happy that I purchased Lactation Labs kit. I was following a Vegan diet and my doctors were concerned my breast milk wouldnt have the protein and fat content necessary to feed my baby. After taking the test, I saw that my numbers in those categories exceeded average, and it gave me and my medical team peace of mind. I also saw that I was lower in B12 and Iron, which I am now supplementing into my diet. I would 100% recommend everyone test their breast milk to know how they can best support the health of their babies!
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Jay Marie
> 3 dayI purchased this kit to test my milk since my baby was gaining weight slowly. I got a detailed report and a personalized email from the lab. It was definitely worth it for the piece of mind and the recommendations.
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Brian Glynn
> 3 dayThis product/ service is so well-designed, I couldn’t have created something better myself! We have been having weight gain issues with my 4 mo old, my husband and I actually googled this bc we were talking about how cool it would be if a company like this existed and sure enough, here it is! Exactly how we would have designed it too! It’s so easy to use and offers such great peace of mind! I am a clinical dietitian, so I am totally nerding out on all of this data and will definitely be recommending it to others. Thanks again for creating such a fabulous product and service, much appreciated, especially after I had one lactation consultant tell me I likely had “skinny latte” milk and that was likely the cause for my child’s lack of weight gain. Always fun to be blamed as a mom, right? I was able to see that my milk was in fact the appropriate level of kcals. I was also able to find out about vitamins and minerals and I did make some changes with my diet and vitamins accordingly.
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JLBS
> 3 dayI was thrilled to see that the overall quality of my breastmilk was great, and was surprised by several of the insights I gained. I had stopped taking iron supplements and lo and behold, I showed low iron on my test, which can be bad for babys sleep! My results were received in the designated time frame and accompanied by a custom note from the founder to provide suggestions, and she even answered a few questions within a few hours. Highly recommend!
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M. Cobos
> 3 dayI 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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Olivia
> 3 dayI 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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Gia Cruickshank
> 3 dayI’ve always wondered what the nutritional value of my milk is and am so glad I found this product! The test was so easy, I couldn’t wait and mailed it out the next day. Got my results after 4 days including the weekend! It is a bit pricey but couldn’t pass up the chance to optimize my milk for my baby.
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Rubin
> 3 dayAbsolutely loved this service. Got the results back very fast with a great recap. Should have done earlier in my breastfeeding journey. I tested when my daughter was around 5 months. Highly recommend to any moms who are curious about the quality of their milk.
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Jennifer Palmer
> 3 dayThis is so great to get a better understanding of what is in your breast milk and how you can optimize your diet to help your baby! So easy to read and understand too, love it and highly recommend!!
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.