News | Northwestern University develops wearable device to monitor breastfeeding volume in real time
A Northwestern University team has developed a wearable device that measures how much milk a baby consumes in real time, addressing a major uncertainty for breastfeeding families. The soft, comfortable device uses bioimpedance to continuously record milk transfer during feeding and immediately sends clinical-grade data to a phone or tablet.
The study will be published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on May 14, 2025. Accuracy and clinical feasibility were evaluated through theoretical models, bench testing and practical assessment in new mothers after childbirth.
The project was led by John A. Rogers, professor of materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering and neurological surgery at Northwestern and director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB). "Parents and clinicians have long been unable to determine exactly how much milk a baby takes during breastfeeding," he said. "Our device provides immediate intake measurements in the hospital or at home."
Co-corresponding author Dr. Daniel Robinson, a neonatologist at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, said the technology could reduce anxiety for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families and improve nutrition management for vulnerable premature infants. "We previously had to estimate intake by weighing before and after feeding, which is cumbersome. The new sensor is an important advance in breastfeeding support."
The project brought together engineers, pediatricians and neonatologists. QSIB postdoctoral researchers Jihye Kim, Seyong Oh and Jae-Young Yoo, now assistant professors at universities in South Korea, contributed to design, wireless electronics and data analysis. Raudel Avila of Rice University, a Northwestern PhD alumnus, led computational modeling and worked with the clinical team to match model results to real-world data.
Addressing a longstanding unmet clinical need
The study began four years ago when pediatric and neonatal specialists at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago identified a major gap in breastfeeding monitoring. Because milk transfer is invisible and flow changes constantly, previous clinical methods could not measure intake accurately.
Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Wicks said weighing before and after feeding provides only an estimate and requires bulky equipment. Bottle-feeding sacrifices skin-to-skin contact and natural stimulation of milk production, and may increase contamination risk during storage and handling.
Although academic groups and startups have explored solutions, few technologies have undergone mature, peer-reviewed clinical validation. "We have filled a genuine medical gap," Rogers said.
A bioimpedance breakthrough after earlier approaches failed
The team first tried optical sensing and monitoring of sucking and swallowing, but deep milk ducts and unstable signals limited these methods. Researchers ultimately used the simpler and more effective approach of measuring changes in milk volume through bioimpedance.
A lightweight, flexible band wraps around the breast, with electrodes at each end sending a weak, safe electrical current. As milk decreases during feeding, the breast's electrical properties change, allowing the device to convert readings into real-time milk-volume data. Human-body models and simulations confirmed accuracy and repeatability.
Personalized calibration and long-term stability, with particular value in the NICU
To account for differences in breast shape and tissue density, the device requires only one breast-pump calibration to personalize data analysis. The team tested it in 12 mothers for up to 17 weeks in NICU and home settings. Device readings closely matched pumped milk volumes.
Robinson and Wicks noted that precise intake measurement is especially important for premature or postoperative newborns, who often tolerate only small, slow feeds and may develop gastrointestinal complications if feeding is mismanaged. The technology may allow more NICU infants to return to direct breastfeeding under controlled conditions.
Future plans: smart garments and monitoring milk quantity and quality
The team plans to integrate the technology into breastfeeding garments for more natural and convenient use. Future versions may monitor breast refilling and nutritional composition such as fat content.
"Breastfeeding stress comes from fear of the unknown—not knowing whether the baby has had enough and worrying that you are not doing well enough," Wicks said. "Removing one uncertainty could reduce anxiety, build confidence and help countless mothers continue breastfeeding."
News | Northwestern University develops wearable device to monitor breastfeeding volume in real time
News | Northwestern University develops wearable device to monitor breastfeeding volume in real time
A Northwestern University team has developed a wearable device that measures how much milk a baby consumes in real time, addressing a major uncertainty for breastfeeding families. The soft, comfortable device uses bioimpedance to continuously record milk transfer during feeding and immediately sends clinical-grade data to a phone or tablet.
The study will be published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on May 14, 2025. Accuracy and clinical feasibility were evaluated through theoretical models, bench testing and practical assessment in new mothers after childbirth.
The project was led by John A. Rogers, professor of materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering and neurological surgery at Northwestern and director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB). "Parents and clinicians have long been unable to determine exactly how much milk a baby takes during breastfeeding," he said. "Our device provides immediate intake measurements in the hospital or at home."
Co-corresponding author Dr. Daniel Robinson, a neonatologist at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, said the technology could reduce anxiety for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families and improve nutrition management for vulnerable premature infants. "We previously had to estimate intake by weighing before and after feeding, which is cumbersome. The new sensor is an important advance in breastfeeding support."
The project brought together engineers, pediatricians and neonatologists. QSIB postdoctoral researchers Jihye Kim, Seyong Oh and Jae-Young Yoo, now assistant professors at universities in South Korea, contributed to design, wireless electronics and data analysis. Raudel Avila of Rice University, a Northwestern PhD alumnus, led computational modeling and worked with the clinical team to match model results to real-world data.
Addressing a longstanding unmet clinical need
The study began four years ago when pediatric and neonatal specialists at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago identified a major gap in breastfeeding monitoring. Because milk transfer is invisible and flow changes constantly, previous clinical methods could not measure intake accurately.
Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Wicks said weighing before and after feeding provides only an estimate and requires bulky equipment. Bottle-feeding sacrifices skin-to-skin contact and natural stimulation of milk production, and may increase contamination risk during storage and handling.
Although academic groups and startups have explored solutions, few technologies have undergone mature, peer-reviewed clinical validation. "We have filled a genuine medical gap," Rogers said.
A bioimpedance breakthrough after earlier approaches failed
The team first tried optical sensing and monitoring of sucking and swallowing, but deep milk ducts and unstable signals limited these methods. Researchers ultimately used the simpler and more effective approach of measuring changes in milk volume through bioimpedance.
A lightweight, flexible band wraps around the breast, with electrodes at each end sending a weak, safe electrical current. As milk decreases during feeding, the breast's electrical properties change, allowing the device to convert readings into real-time milk-volume data. Human-body models and simulations confirmed accuracy and repeatability.
Personalized calibration and long-term stability, with particular value in the NICU
To account for differences in breast shape and tissue density, the device requires only one breast-pump calibration to personalize data analysis. The team tested it in 12 mothers for up to 17 weeks in NICU and home settings. Device readings closely matched pumped milk volumes.
Robinson and Wicks noted that precise intake measurement is especially important for premature or postoperative newborns, who often tolerate only small, slow feeds and may develop gastrointestinal complications if feeding is mismanaged. The technology may allow more NICU infants to return to direct breastfeeding under controlled conditions.
Future plans: smart garments and monitoring milk quantity and quality
The team plans to integrate the technology into breastfeeding garments for more natural and convenient use. Future versions may monitor breast refilling and nutritional composition such as fat content.
"Breastfeeding stress comes from fear of the unknown—not knowing whether the baby has had enough and worrying that you are not doing well enough," Wicks said. "Removing one uncertainty could reduce anxiety, build confidence and help countless mothers continue breastfeeding."
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