Impact of prenatal milk expression on breastfeeding success in overweight and obese women
Official title: Effect of Antenatal Milk Expression on Breastfeeding Outcomes among Overweight and Obese Women
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10656418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $376,939 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD098186-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10656418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are first-time pregnant women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index of 25 or higher who are not diabetic.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those who have pre-existing diabetes, may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demirci, Jill Radtke — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Demirci, Jill Radtke
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.