Description
Your breast milk is your baby’s first and most important source of nutrition — and while most nutrients are naturally set by your body, some, like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), depend on your diet.
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and some supplements. It’s essential for your baby’s brain, eye, and immune system development, and it may also support postpartum mental health for you.
Why Test Your DHA in Breast Milk?
- Tells you if your milk is delivering enough DHA for optimal infant development.
- Helps you protect your own DHA stores while breastfeeding.
- Allows you to adjust diet and supplements quickly — DHA levels in milk respond within days.
Understanding Your Results
- Optimal Mother’s Milk DHA level: >0.32% of total milk fatty acids
- Reference range: 0.2–1.2%
- Also measures Arachidonic Acid (AA) — another important fatty acid for growth and development, which is less influenced by diet.
How to Increase Your Mother’s Milk DHA
- Eat low-mercury, high-DHA fish 2–3 times per week (salmon, sardines, herring, trout).
- Take an omega-3 supplement with at least 200 mg DHA per serving (ideally with EPA as well).
- For plant-based diets, choose vegan algal oil DHA supplements.
- Fortified foods (omega-3 milk, DHA-enriched eggs) can also help boost levels.
Why This Matters for Baby’s Health
- Brain Development — DHA is a building block for brain cells and supports learning ability.
- Vision Support — DHA is a major component of the retina.
- Immune Strength — Supports healthy immune system maturation in early life.
When to Test
- Shortly after birth to establish your baseline
- Every 2–3 weeks if making dietary changes, until reaching optimal DHA
- Every 6 months while breastfeeding to ensure levels stay in range
Order your Mother’s Milk DHA Test today — and give your baby the best nutritional start for brain, vision, and immune development.
