By Charles Audouin
Video = Northwestern University

Domestic researchers have devised a wireless wearable sensor to measure in real time the amount of breast milk a baby consumes while breastfeeding.

This is expected to greatly help manage the nutrition of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit through accurate measurement of breast milk a baby consumes.

Domestic media on May 19 reported that the international journal Nature Biomedical Engineering on May 14 published the results of the study by three university professors from Korea -- Kim Jihye (Ajou), Oh Seyong (Hanyang) and Yoo Jae-Young (Sungkyunkwan) -- and one from the U.S. -- John A. Rogers (Northwestern).

By attaching two thin electrode pads with light current on and under the breast, the sensor measures the quantity of breast milk the baby has by detecting changes in electric pressure resulting from the reduced amount of milk inside the breast during breastfeeding.

A mother can adjust the settings of her breast pump and check the measured amount of breast milk with a smartphone app.

Before, checking the breast milk level was done by weighing the baby before and after breastfeeding or using a breast pump, but these methods posed difficulties in clinical or home use.

The team also plans to develop the device into something that gauges nutritional data like the quality of breast milk or fat content for eventual collaboration with makers of underwear for breastfeeding or those of breast pumps.

"The uncertainty of breastfeeding causes anxiety and self-guilt in many mothers, with some even giving up breastfeeding as a result," Kim said. "We can ease the stress of mothers through clinical help for infant feeding and contribute to a healthier society, children and mothers."

caudouin@korea.kr