Ask Dr Sears
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
MENUMENU
  • Pregnancy & Childbirth
  • Feeding & Eating
  • Parenting & Behavior
  • Health Concerns
  • Brain Health
  • A to Z Topics
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Wellness Institute
  • Home
  • Topics
  • Feeding & Eating
  • Breastfeeding
  • Helpful Breastfeeding Products
  • Measuring DHA Content in Breast Milk

Measuring DHA Content in Breast Milk

Measuring DHA Content in Breast Milk

A new test measures the level of the brain-building fat DHA in breast milk.  An Omega Quant’s Mother’s Milk DHA test is easy to do and requires only one drop of breast milk.  We use this in our pediatric practice as a way of encouraging breastfeeding moms to be sure they eat enough omega-3 fats (Dr. Bill’s prescription: 6 ounces of wild salmon twice a week).

 

Why is your breast milk DHA level important?

The optimal building of baby’s brain, eyes and nervous system depends on having sufficient building blocks from mom’s milk.  One of those building blocks is DHA, a member of the omega-3 fats family.  It is especially important during pregnancy and the first two years of life.  In America, breast milk DHA levels are well below worldwide averages because we eat so little fish.  Whether this low DHA level early in life is at least partly responsible for the increasing educational gap between us and many other countries (such as Japan where babies get much more DHA) cannot be known for certain.  But you can know how much DHA is in your milk and therefore how much DHA your baby is getting.  OmegaQuant’s Mother’s Milk DHA test gives you the information you need to make changes in your diet that will give your baby more DHA.

Related Articles

  • Fat Content
  • Pumping Your Milk
  • Sore Breast

For more information, see our DHA and omega-3’s section, and visit OmegaQuant’s website.

 

October 23, 2013 April 11, 2018 Dr. Bill Sears
The Health Brain Book
Become a Dr. Sears Certified Health Coach
Dr Poo: The Scoop on Comfortable Poop

Juice Plus+ - The next best thing to fruits and vegetables.

Vital Choice

About Ask Dr. Sears

AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs.

Recent Articles

  • Can You Help Your Kids Grow Taller? – 5-Step Action Plan
    Can You Help Your Kids Grow Taller? – 5-Step Action PlanDecember 27, 20220
  • Dr. Jim on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)November 8, 20220
  • "You've Got This!" - Martha's Breast Cancer StoryOctober 30, 20220


Resources

  • Sears Parenting Library
  • Dr. Sears Family Newsletter
  • Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
  • Prime-Time Health

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

  • support@askdrsears.com
  • Contact Ask Dr Sears
  • About Ask Dr Sears
  • About Dr. William Sears
  • Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
  • Media Relations Information


© 2020 AskDrSears.com All Rights Reserved.