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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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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Ruchiccio
> 24 hourFinally I could shut those people up. Those people refers to anyone who told me to switch to formula because it has more calories. My results showed that my milk actually had more calories than formula, so there! The results were extremely informative and I appreciated that they were written personally for me. Not a canned response. I also got them in a very timely manner. Its nice to have someone to talk to there when I reached out to customer service. All in all, I am so glad I finally splurged to do this test because the results were very telling.
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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.
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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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Jaquelin Corkery
> 24 hourDirections were easy to follow. Collection was easy too. And I LOVED having the results - really really helpful and reassuring. Also great that its reviewed by a doctor. This is a home run product. I know its pricey but its definitely worth it if you can afford it!
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Ricardo Yost
> 24 hourSo grateful for this kit. My baby was labeled as failure to thrive and I️ feel like it armed me with knowledge about my milk nutritional content. I really liked the personal recommendations for optimizing my nutrient intake. My providers all felt comfortable with the process and analysis. It truly gave me the confidence and helped relieve some of the guilt I️ was feeling because my baby wasn’t growing as expected. Still breastfeeding 3 months later and baby is hanging in there size wise, just small.
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Prof. Lucienne Ullrich
> 24 hourLoved this experience! Easy to mail sample. Results laid out so well. Additional information given with results including a support group and links to products.
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Harlie Depew
> 24 hourI’m so thankful I have found this test, it gives me peace of mind knowing that my baby is getting the nutrients he needs and we can continue our breastfeeding journey!
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BlondieFCC
> 24 hourThis kit was very easy to use and the results were turned around to me so quickly. If you are curious/worried about the quality of your breast milk, this kit will give you peace of mind. Stephanie’s email with the results were easy to understand and is very personalized. This was worth the money and I recommend this kit highly to all new moms
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Jonathan Berry
> 24 hourMy wife got the kit so she could find out more about her breastmilk quality and see what more she could do to help our baby get the nutrients he needs. The kit came with directions on how to send the sample and the lactation lab website was a great resource for more information. She pumped a few different times in the day for the sample and froze it. You put the frozen sample along with the ice pack in a pre-paid envelope. The results were emailed to her a week later. It was exciting reading the results and seeing what her milk is actually providing to our baby. The report goes over the different things tested and tells you what each item does to help your growing baby. We learned a lot about the different vitamins and nutrients and got recommendations on what to eat more of and vitamins to take to help improve the quality of her milk. It’s fascinating to see exactly what your giving to your baby to help them grow.
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.