Mothers’viewofbreastmilkuptaketobestudied

• Published date: 27 May 2023
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

It is a question University of Otago researchers hope to answer after receiving a $250,000 grant in the Emerging Researcher and Explorer Grants funding rounds this week

Department of medicine senior research fellow Dr Lisa Daniels hopes to determine how much milk a breastfeeding baby is actually receiving, and how that compares to the mother’s perception of supply.

‘‘The first 1000 days are the foundation for life-long health and wellbeing.

‘‘Although exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until around 6 months of age, relatively few mothers in New Zealand reach this milestone.

‘‘Perceived insufficient milk supply is reported to be a leading cause of early cessation of breastfeeding, yet it is currently unknown whether the perception of insufficient milk supply is associated with actual low breast milk supply,’’ she said.

Dr Daniels said the study would include 150 mothers who were breastfeeding their 3-month-old babies and who had differing perceptions of how much milk their baby was receiving.

‘‘To the best of my knowledge, this research will be the first using the gold standard stable isotope method to assess breast milk volumes.

‘‘Put simply, to assess actual breast milk supply, the mother will drink a set quantity of deuterium oxide (D2O) — more commonly known as heavy water.

‘‘Saliva samples collected from both mother...