Impact of prenatal milk expression on breastfeeding success in overweight and obese women

Effect of Antenatal Milk Expression on Breastfeeding Outcomes among Overweight and Obese Women

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10656418

This study is looking at how teaching expectant moms who are overweight or obese to express milk before their baby arrives can help them have a better breastfeeding experience.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10656418 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how antenatal milk expression (AME) can improve breastfeeding outcomes for overweight and obese women. Participants will be women with a body mass index of 25 or higher who are pregnant for the first time. They will receive training on milk expression during the third trimester through a telelactation platform, while a control group will receive unrelated infant care education. The goal is to address barriers to breastfeeding, such as low self-efficacy and insufficient milk supply, by providing support and resources before the baby is born.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are first-time pregnant women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index of 25 or higher who are not diabetic.

Not a fit: Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those who have pre-existing diabetes, may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance breastfeeding rates and improve maternal and infant health outcomes for overweight and obese women.

How similar studies have performed: While antenatal milk expression is gaining popularity in other countries, there is limited evidence supporting its effectiveness in the U.S., making this research a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.