Mother’s Milk (DHA Test)

Description

The Mother’s Milk DHA Test measures the amount of omega-3 DHA in breast milk. Studies show breast milk is the best way to deliver DHA to your growing baby.

Once you know your Prenatal DHA level, you can personalize your diet to safely change your level in as little as two to three months. The goal is to reach a Prenatal DHA level of 5% or higher.

Eating fish, taking an omega-3 supplement, or a little bit of both can get you to 5%. You can eat two servings of low-mercury, high-DHA fish per week, like salmon, anchovies, herring and mackerel. If you can’t stomach those kinds of fish, an omega-3 or DHA prenatal supplement or a general fish oil supplement can raise your blood level. Make sure the supplement has at least 200 mg of DHA per serving, but it’s good to aim for getting both EPA and DHA if possible. Many people end up taking a supplement and adding a little fish to their diet as tolerated.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding for you and your baby, both physical and emotional. There are many important nutrients in your breastmilk. Levels of most of them are set by nature and are tailored to your baby’s needs, but there are a few that are affected by what you eat, like the nutrient DHA. DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found in fish. DHA is important for brain, eye and immune system development of your baby and may help support postpartum mental health for you.