While
breast-feeding, avoid exposure to poisonous
substances, which may be in contaminated water, food, or air. Heavy metals such
as lead and mercury, some pesticides, and other industrial or household
chemicals can sometimes end up in breast milk.
- Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or
tilefish, because these all contain high levels of mercury.
- Eat up
to 12 oz (340 g) a week (two
average meals) of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
- Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are
low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and
catfish.
- Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna, has
more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish
and shellfish, you may eat up to
6 oz (170 g) a week (one
average meal) of albacore tuna.
Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and
friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is
available, eat up to
6 oz (170 g) a week (one
average meal) of fish caught from local waters, but don't eat any other fish
during that week. Also check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Web
site for mercury advisory updates at www.epa.gov/ost/fish.
- Make sure your household and work areas are not hazardous. Use
common sense to avoid strong chemicals, such as pesticides. If you are unsure
or concerned about exposures, contact your local health department for
information about whether special testing is warranted.
Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about your exposure to
contaminants.
