Mercury Facts: Eating Tuna while Breastfeeding

Pregnant and nursing mothers need to be aware that mercury can pass to fetus and through breastmilk. Canned tuna in particular is under scrutiny. James E. Rogers, PhD, director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports made this statement regarding tuna, “From can to can, mercury levels can spike in unpredictable ways that might jeopardize the health of a fetus.”. The FDA states that fetuses, infants and young children are more vulnerable to the potential effects of mercury due to their small bodies, metabolism and speedy growth.

According to Thomas Hale, PHD founder of the Infant Risk Center renown for his work with how foods and medications, supplements and foods pass through breastmilk, states that "Developing fetuses, young infants and children are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury on the brain and nervous system. It is thus especially important that women of childbearing age, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, be equipped with knowledge and resources to help them make better choices regarding the seafood they choose to consume so they reap the benefits of seafood consumption without subjecting themselves to excessive methylmercury exposure.'

This does not mean nursing mothers should avoid seafood, but there are much safer choices than tuna and other large predatory fish. Large predatory fish consume many smaller fish, accumulating methylmercury in their tissues therefore the older and larger the fish, have greater potential for high mercury levels in their bodies.

Better choices in seafood for pregnant and nursing mothers include catfish, cod, shrimp, salmon and trout.  Below is a chart so you can check the FDA advice on your favorite seafood.

If canned tuna is your go-to lunch meal, you may want to try canned salmon.  Or for a non-seafood option, use canned chicken prepared as a chicken salad very much the way you prepare tuna salad.  Instead of pickles and apples traditionally used with tuna, you may want to try pineapple and almond slivers which compliment the chicken deliciously.  There are also other great combinations to add into chicken salad such as grapes and pecans.  For a third ingredient, chives or celery can also be used.  Or if you want to stick with seafood, salmon can be prepared and then shredded to use in a salmon salad sandwich instead. Ok, I'm hungry now so time to sign off.

Here is to safe consumption!

Tanya

Breastfeeding Blog: Emergency Pumping Power

A common fear for moms who rely on heavily on their breast pump is what do your do when you can't plug in your pump?  For example it seems that power outages have become increasing more common. Of course there are some great rechargeable breast pumps out there like the new Spectra Synergy Gold Rechargeable, but if you don't have a high quality rechargeable pump, you need some other way to express.

Manual expression can have a learning curve so knowing how is a great tool and the tried and true method is the Marmet Technique of manual expression.  Although I have linking it here, remember that in a power outage, you may not have access to view technique so it is good to practice before you need it.  

Did you that major breast pump brands offer conversion kits to turn your regular breast milk collection kit into a manual pump?  Spectra Manual Adapter Kit uses your current Spectra brand flange, valve and bottle to convert to an effective one-handed manual pump.  Ameda One Hand Assembly converts most Ameda breast pump kits (other than the original Mya which did not have the same shaped flange) into a manual pump.  

Other power considerations should be planned for travel such as for work or for families with babies in the NICU who spend a lot of time going to and from the hospital.  I recently spoke with a mom of a 4lb preemie whose home is an hour away from the hospital.  She was so grateful to know that there are breast pump vehicle adapters for many breast pump pump brands including the Motif Luna, Spectra S2 (which also works the Spectra Synergy Gold) and Ameda Mya Joy.

Both breast pump vehicle adapters and manual breast pumps offer you options when the unexpected comes up in your pumping journey.

Here is to being prepared!

Tanya