Dioxins

Breast milk survey

New Zealand’s Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Third quarterly progress report (1 April 2007–30 June 2007)

Research nurses
Research nurses have been assigned for the South Island (Christchurch and North Canterbury) and the North Island (Wellington and Wairarapa).

Involvement of midwives
The midwifery groups listed below are currently participating in the breast milk study:

Christchurch
Domino Midwives (3 midwives)
Pregnancy Matters (4 midwives)
Midwives on Barrington (4 midwives)
Merrivale Midwives (4 midwives)
Halswell Village Midwives (2 midwives)
Several independent midwives (2 midwives)

North Canterbury
Choice Midwives Rangiora (2 midwives)
Rangiora Hospital Midwives (4 midwives)
Rangiora Community Midwives (2 midwives)

Wellington
Domino Midwives (4 midwives)
Nga Tapuhi (Maori and Pacific Midwives) (3 midwives)
Newtown Union Health (3 midwives)
Primary Care Team Wellington Hospital (5 midwives)
Several independent midwives (5 midwives)

Wairarapa
Wairarapa independent midwives (2 midwives)
Charge midwives at the hospital (3 midwives)
Masterton Medical Centre (4 GPs)

First contact mothers
Contact has been established with three mothers from the Christchurch study area and one from the Wairarapa study area. The mothers have agreed to participate in the breast milk study, but only two fit the all inclusion criteria.

Main difficulties: the number of women that fit the strict criteria of the study is small, particularly because of the requirement for the mother to be having her first child and to be aged between 20 and 30 years.

First visit mothers
Two mothers in the study from the Christchurch region have had their first visit of the research nurse. During this visit, the research nurse explained to the mothers how to use the breast milk collection bottles.

Second visit mothers
One mother from the Christchurch region has completed her breast milk collection, and this first milk sample was collected during the second visit of the research nurse.

Concluding remarks
The breast milk study is on track and expected to be completed in May 2008.

Page last updated: 30 July 2007