Are you planning to get pregnant soon, or are you currently pregnant? Then you can participate in research about breast development during and after pregnancy. We aim to scan the breast several times over an extended period to observe changes during pregnancy, optional breastfeeding, and afterward. We use two harmless and painless scanning methods: MRI and optical imaging with light. MRI will not be used during pregnancy.
For this research, it doesn't matter if you do or do not breastfeed after giving birth.
What are we working on?
Some women face more challenges with breastfeeding than others. This study investigates what happens in the breast during and after pregnancy, as little is known about these changes. Understanding these changes can help us better understand the differences in breastfeeding experiences among women. It can also aid in detecting and treating breast cancer during and shortly after pregnancy. The study focuses on changes in breast tissue composition, including blood flow and glandular tissue.
What do we ask of you?
If you participate in this research, you will have your breasts scanned every 6 weeks over a prolonged period.
- If you are not breastfeeding after delivery: You will participate from pregnancy until 12 months postpartum, totaling about 18 months.
- If you are breastfeeding after delivery: You will participate from pregnancy until 12 months after you stop breastfeeding. This totals about 18 months plus the number of months you breastfeed. All measurements will cease in January 2027, even if you are still breastfeeding.
Important: You decide whether or not to breastfeed and when to stop. We will only measure what happens during that period.
Scanning Process: Optical imaging with light takes about 30 minutes. Most measurements can be done at your home or another location of your choice. Additionally, we ask you to visit the University of Twente (located between Enschede and Hengelo) six times after delivery for MRI scans. Each MRI scan also takes about 30 minutes.
Who can participate and when?
Group 1: Healthy, adult women over 18 years old who are planning to become pregnant soon.
Group 2: Healthy, adult women over 18 years old who are in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- You have not been pregnant in the last 9 months or in the 9 months preceding your current pregnancy.
- You have not had breast surgery, such as breast reconstruction, augmentation, or reduction.
- You do not have tattoos or piercings on or in the breasts.
- You do not have a history of breast cancer.
Location: Due to travel time, we are particularly looking for women in the Enschede/Hengelo area.
This study runs from January 2024 to January 2027.
Extra information
As a thank you for your participation and time, you will receive a €15 gift card for each MRI scan. If you wish, we can share the images of the scans with you.
Meet the researcher
Researcher 'Changes in the breast during and after pregnancy'
A. Boamfa (Ana)
PhD Candidate
Hello, I'm Ana!
I work as a researcher at the University of Twente. My research group focuses on various studies related to breastfeeding and breast milk. I find the human body incredibly fascinating, especially how it functions seamlessly without us needing to consciously think about it. This is why I'm involved in this exciting project, where we aim to learn more about the marvels of the breast during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We are also conducting another study that women can participate in, called "Breastfeeding in Focus."
Stay updated! To keep up with our research, follow us on Instagram @onderzoekborstvoeding_utwente
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Thank you for your interest in participating in the research on changes in the breast during and after pregnancy. Please fill out your details below, and the researcher will get in touch with you.
