FLOW: Measures of breastfeeding and infant sucking behavior
Breastfeeding is often characterized as an intimate and special moment between mother and child. However, it can also cause a lot of stress and insecurity at the side of the mother, for example when the newborn is not growing well or appears to be ill. Gaining more insight into the drinking behavior of a newborn, such as intake volume or drinking speed, can contribute to more self-confidence at the side of the mother, or to the identification of possible causes of growth problems.
This project focuses on the development of a wearable with which a newborn’s drinking behavior can be monitored in the home setting. We test the ability of different sensing modalities in detecting parameters of interest. We envision an easy-to-use system, where sensors will be integrated in attributes that are used during breastfeeding, such as a nursing bra, bib, or cloth.