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mercury from fish and breastfeeding

bv27bv27
in Breastfeeding

I just had orange roughy for dinner and didn't realize until afterward that it is a fish - like mackeral, shark - that doctors recommend pregnant women not eat because it is very high levels of mercury. I read on kelly mom that it may be okay to nurse since the mercury levels may not be readily absorbed into the breastmilk OR if absorbed easily, might not be readily absorbed by baby. Has anyone come across this issue before?

I'm going to call the LC or doctor tomorrow but am not sure if I should just pump and dump for tonight.....

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Re: mercury from fish and breastfeeding

  • carrann82carrann82 member

    Your fine!!  You would have to eat pounds and pounds of it.

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  • jeffs_bakerjeffs_baker

    I am very skeptical of mercury for myself, and am even more conservative when it comes to bm and dd. Pumping and dumping for one night wouldn't work... mercury can stay in bm for a couple of weeks (it's not like alcohol or spicy foods). Just watch what you eat for the next few weeks, because it can add up. I'm sure you're fine with one serving of fish!

     

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  • bv27bv27

    Thanks for your replies!

    I spoke to my LC and DD's pediatrician and they said it was fine to continue to nurse. The pediatrician did point out though that it's hard to assess the risk since how much mercury I consumed would vary from individual fish to individual fish and the serving size. My LC said that it's harder for the mercury to pass through to the breastmilk than while I was pregnant and both said not to make a habit of eating a lot of seafood but that just once was probably fine.

    Anyway, I think I'll avoid seafood for a good long time now so that I don't need to worry....

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