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Conference moira::parenting

Title:	Parenting
Notice:	Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:	GEMEVN::FAIMANY

Created:	Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1292
Total number of notes:	34837

409.0. "Testing Breast Milk for carcinogens, etc. - How to?" by CNTROL::STOLICNY () Mon Dec 14 1992 13:17

    
The following note is being entered for a member of the PARENTING
notesfile community who prefers to remain anonymous at this time.

Carol Stolicny, PARENTING co-mod
-----------------------------------------------------------------

	Does anyone know of any where to get breast milk tested for
various carcinogens, including PCBs?  I'd read in a breast-feeding book
that mothers who were concerned about exposure to such things should
just have their milk tested.  But I've checked with my OB, the hospital,
La Leche, a drug & breastfeeding hotline in Boston, & no one has heard
of any such procedure.

	I'd hate to think I was doing something good for my child only to
find out years later I passed on PCBs that I think I was exposed to
growing up.

	Thanks for any suggestions.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
409.1	Try the milk bank, or chem labs	VERGA::STEWART	Caryn....Perspective is Everything!	`Mon Dec 14 1992 13:35`	12
	One of the Worcester hospitals, I believe Memorial, has a milk bank. You might call and ask them if they know of PCB tests for milk. Also, you could check with medical as well as chemical testing laboratories (I'd check with chemical labs first as what you're wanting to test for is a chemical, not a medical substance - disease, germ, etc). Just a thought, if the milk has a high level of PCBs, then the mother is or has been exposed to a high level of PCBs, and one would wonder how the infant is to be protected from the same sources. ~Caryn
409.2		ICS::HSCOTT	Lynn Hanley-Scott	`Mon Dec 14 1992 13:54`	7
	As a footnote to the general issue - I recall reading that even with the risk of carcinogens passed from the mother in breast milk, breast milk is still the best and most nutritious food for infants. Limiting the known carginogens such as tobacco, drugs, alchohol can at least alleviate a bit of your concern.
409.3	a resource	WEORG::DARROW		`Tue Jan 19 1993 11:10`	9
	One of the breastfeeding books I checked out from the library listed resources for testing breast milk. (The addresses were in one of the appendices.) I don't have the book now, but it was "The Breastfeeding Mother's Companion." I'm not positive I got the title exact, but it's the manual you see advertised in almost all the baby magazines, catalogs, and such. It's very well-written.
409.4	update	TIPTOE::STOLICNY		`Wed Feb 24 1993 08:23`	23
	The following is an update from the anonymous basenoter. Carol Stolicny, PARENTING co-mod ----------------------------------------------------------- RE .1 - Thanks very much for the pointer to Worcester Memorial-- they do have a Milk Bank & lacatation consulting that does some testing, but not for PCBs and other carcinogens. They primarily operate the bank for premature babies. However, they did refer me to UMASS Medical, who then referred me to a company (the only one ?) that does the testing. Its called National Medical, and they can be reached at (215)657-4900. The test costs about $100, and results will only be sent to a doctor (not directly to you). The pros & conns of this testing are a long story, but anyone who is interested should discuss it with their doctor and/or this company.