The mother of a nursing 1 year old who has just been tested positive for high
lead levels is having her baby retested. She is concerned that the doctor may
tell her the lead is coming from her milk and suggest that she wean. She talked
with someone at Centers For Disease Control who said there was something in the
human milk that blocks lead absorption so it would be better for her not to
wean.

According to Ruth Lawrence's text: "Higher uptake in infant than mother.
Strongly bound to hemoglobin so not much gets into milk. Formula may have higher
concentrations."

Please note that she has NOT been told to wean; she is just trying to arm
herself just in case. Apparently the hospital she will be dealing with if the
lead level tests high the second time around is not known for being baby
friendly.

Any thoughts? (This is an indirect call--I have not spoken with the mom. The
person who did talk to her suggested having her own blood/milk levels tested for
lead if anything is said to her, as well as general information on how to talk
with the doctors so as to work as a team rather than adversaries.)

Thanks!

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
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