Breastfeeding physiology The mechanism of breastfeeding
Conditions
Interventions
The study uses a breast pump setup that is MRI-compatible. The pump itself has a CE mark for standard use outside the MRI, but in this study an adapted version is tested within the MRI environment. Th
Sponsors
Universiteit Twente
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Lactating womenBetween 18 and 45 years0.5 to 24 months postpartum
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: History of breast augmentation, reduction, reconstruction or other proceduresBreast piercingsKnown breast disease at the time of the experimentProblems with breastfeeding at the time of the experiment, e.g. mastitisPregnancyNot eligible for MRI, see F1. vragenlijst screening MRI, this includes:PacemakerImplantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)Hearing implantDrug pumpNeurostimulatorMetal implantAbdominal/hip circumference greater than 120 cm
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The aim of this study is to use real-time MRI to identify and characterize the anatomical and physiological changes that occur in the lactating breast during milk expression using a breast pump. MRI measurements will be performed before, during, and after breast pumping. The parameters of interest are duct diameter (mm), breast tissue composition and deformation, and extracted milk volume over time within the breast cup (analysed with Matlab). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Technical and practical feasibility of breast milk expression within the MRI environment, including:Ability to express milk while lying prone in the MRI scanner with breasts positioned in the dedicated breast coil.Evaluation of user experience and comfort during breast pumping in the MRI scannerAssess participant comfort, ease of use, and overall satisfaction of the adapted breast pump using a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The feasibility of the study protocol will be evaluated based on the successful completion of the procedure and reasons for any discontinuation. Qualitative feedback on the ergonomic fit of the setup within the breast coil and overall tolerability of the procedure. Correlation between MRI-derived outcomes and expressed milk volume (weighed after breast pumping), to assess how MRI-observed anatomical and physiological changes relate to milk expression. Comparisons will be made between the expressed and non-expressed breast to evaluate potential inter-breast differences in the anatomical and physiological measurements. Parameters for comparison include duct diameter, breast tissue deformation, and tissue composition. The expressed breast is directly stimulated by the breast pump, whereas the non-expressed breast undergoes systemic milk ejection responses without local tissue deformation. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
Public ContactN. Bosschaart
Universiteit Twente
Outcome results
None listed