Breastfeeding Tracker: Real-Time Milk Intake Device
- A new wearable device developed by Northwestern University engineers, neonatologists, and pediatricians promises to take the guesswork out of breastfeeding.
- The unobtrusive device wraps around a nursing mother's breast and wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone or tablet, displaying a live graphical representation of milk intake.
- Rogers of Northwestern University, who led the device growth, said the technology eliminates uncertainty, offering a convenient and reliable way to monitor milk intake in real time, whether...
tired of the uncertainties of breastfeeding? Northwestern University introduces a groundbreaking wearable device designed for real-time breast milk monitoring. This innovative device utilizes bioimpedance technology to accurately track milk consumption, providing vital data for parents and offering enhanced nutrition management, especially for NICU infants. Clinical trials confirm its accuracy and practicality, revolutionizing how we understand breast milk intake. The device wirelessly transmits data, offering parents peace of mind and empowering clinicians with precise insights. discover how this device reduces parental anxiety and supports optimal infant health, all detailed on News Directory 3. Learn about the exciting future iterations, including measuring milk quality and production. Discover what’s next …
Wearable Device Offers Real-Time breast Milk Monitoring
Updated May 14, 2024
A new wearable device developed by Northwestern University engineers, neonatologists, and pediatricians promises to take the guesswork out of breastfeeding. The device provides clinical-grade,continuous monitoring of breast milk consumption.
The unobtrusive device wraps around a nursing mother’s breast and wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone or tablet, displaying a live graphical representation of milk intake. This technology aims to provide reassurance to parents and improve clinical management of nutrition, especially for vulnerable infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
John A. Rogers of Northwestern University, who led the device growth, said the technology eliminates uncertainty, offering a convenient and reliable way to monitor milk intake in real time, whether in the hospital or at home. The findings were published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. daniel Robinson, a Northwestern Medicine neonatologist, noted that uncertainty about infant nutrition can cause stress for families, particularly those with preterm infants in the NICU. He anticipates the sensor will significantly advance lactation support, reduce stress for families, and increase certainty for clinicians.
The device underwent rigorous assessments, including theoretical modeling, benchtop experiments, and testing on new mothers in the hospital, to ensure accuracy and practicality.
Dr.Craig Garfield, a professor of pediatrics at Feinberg and attending physician at Lurie Children’s, and Dr. Jennifer Wicks, a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s, also contributed to the study.
According to Wicks, current methods for measuring breast milk consumption, such as weighing the baby before and after feeding, are cumbersome and inconvenient. Bottle-feeding, while offering precise measurements, lacks the benefits of skin-to-skin contact.
The device employs a simple technique: it sends a tiny electrical current through the breast using two electrodes. Another pair of electrodes captures the voltage difference associated with that current.As the baby drinks milk, the reduction in milk volume changes the electrical properties of the breast, which the device accurately calibrates and quantifies.
Rogers explained that this concept, called bioimpedance, is similar to how body fat is measured. The team previously developed similar sensors for monitoring babies in the NICU and tracking fluid drainage through shunts.
The team personalized the device to account for differences in breast density, shape, and size. Mothers calibrate the system by wearing the device while using a breast pump connected to a bottle with volume markings. This teaches the device how to interpret changes in electrical signals for each specific mother.
Testing on 12 breastfeeding mothers, both in the NICU and at home, showed strikingly similar results between amounts in the bottle and amounts detected by the sensor.
What’s next
Researchers plan to integrate the technology into agreeable undergarments like breastfeeding bras.future iterations could measure milk refilling into the breast and track changes in milk production over time. The team also aims to optimize the device to glean even more insights, such as milk quality and fat content.