For countless new moms, one of the hardest parts of breastfeeding isn’t the latch or the logistics—it’s the uncertainty. Is my baby getting enough? Am I making enough? Should I be worried?
Now, a team of engineers and clinicians at Northwestern University may have an answer: a soft, wearable device that measures, in real time, how much milk a baby consumes while breastfeeding. The breakthrough technology—published May 14 in Nature Biomedical Engineering—uses bioimpedance (a safe, low-level electrical current) to monitor changes in breast milk volume as a baby nurses, with results wirelessly streamed to a smartphone or tablet for live viewing.
And for moms in the NICU, who are already navigating fragile feeding routines and overwhelming emotions, this device could change everything.
“Knowing exactly how much milk an infant is receiving during breastfeeding has long been a challenge for both parents and healthcare providers,” said John A. Rogers, the bioelectronics pioneer behind the device, in the Northwestern release. “This technology eliminates that uncertainty…whether in the hospital or at home.”
As a mom who’s been through a NICU stay myself, I know how heavy that uncertainty can feel. My middle-born daughter was born six weeks premature and spent 10 days in the NICU. Every feed felt like a milestone—and a question mark. We celebrated every half ounce she kept down, but I would’ve given anything for a little more reassurance that she was truly getting what she needed.
Related: 8 Tips to Help You Breastfeed In the NICU
A soft solution to a heavy worry
The device itself is a thin, silicone-wrapped cord that gently wraps around the breast. Electrodes at either end transmit data to a central base station, which then wirelessly streams data to a smartphone or tablet for live viewing. It’s unobtrusive, safe, and—according to moms who’ve tested it—barely noticeable during feeding.
Julia Seitchik, a mother of three who participated in the clinical trials, said, “I really didn’t notice [the sensors] were even there.” When her first baby was born under five pounds, she recalled constantly worrying about weight gain. “Although I felt like she was thriving, it was important to make sure she continued to grow,” she shared. “Having a device like this would have let me know exactly how much milk she was getting in those first few days.”
Related: To the mama with low milk supply: You are resilient and more than enough
Designed with NICU families in mind
While this innovation offers peace of mind for any breastfeeding parent, Dr. Daniel Robinson and Dr. Jennifer Wicks say it could be especially meaningful in neonatal intensive care units.
“Uncertainty around whether an infant is getting sufficient nutrition can cause stress for families, especially for breastfeeding mothers with preterm infants in the NICU,” said Dr. Daniel Robinson, a neonatologist at Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital. Right now, clinicians often rely on clunky workarounds, like weighing babies before and after each feed—methods that are imprecise, inconvenient, and impossible to replicate at home.
This sensor, by contrast, offers an intuitive way to track intake without interrupting the natural rhythm of nursing. And for premature babies with strict volume limits or complex feeding needs, that data could help guide care and even allow more NICU babies to breastfeed directly instead of relying solely on bottles or pumps.
During our NICU stay, I remember weighing diapers obsessively and tracking feeds in a notebook I never let out of my sight. But even then, it never felt like enough. You’re trying to learn to breastfeed, manage hospital-grade pumps, and recover from birth—all while your baby’s health hangs in the balance. A tool like this wouldn’t just offer data—it would offer peace of mind when you need it most.
A single calibration, countless uses
To personalize the system for each breastfeeding parent, the device requires just one calibration session: during pumping, parents track expressed milk volume using a standard bottle while the device maps corresponding bioimpedance changes. This calibration enables the device to accurately interpret milk volume changes for that specific user. Once calibrated, the device can be used at home or in clinical settings to measure future feeds without interruption.
In early testing, the device showed promising results. When researchers compared its measurements to traditional methods—including bottle measurements and baby weigh-ins before and after feeds—they found a strong correlation.
The team’s next steps include testing across more diverse populations and developing additional features, such as analyzing milk production trends over time or measuring fat content. They’re also exploring how to integrate the sensor directly into breastfeeding bras for even easier daily use.
Taking the guesswork out of breastfeeding
For many parents, the emotional toll of breastfeeding is often compounded by one key fear: not knowing.
“Breastfeeding can be extremely emotional for mothers,” said Dr. Jennifer Wicks, a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s and co-lead on the project. “Being able to remove one piece of uncertainty…will really help decrease some of that stress and anxiety.”
I’ve breastfed three babies—and I can tell you, the uncertainty never really goes away. But this kind of tool could help lift some of that invisible weight parents carry in those early, foggy days. It’s not just about data; it’s about feeling a little more grounded during one of the most vulnerable transitions of your life.
The device is still undergoing testing in clinical and home settings, but researchers hope to bring it to market within the next few years. It has the potential to not just collect data—but to offer the kind of clarity, confidence, and peace of mind every parent deserves.
What’s normal?
Most newborns nurse 8–12 times a day, but volume can vary greatly. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, signs that a baby is feeding well include steady weight gain, 6 or more wet diapers per day after day five, and contentment after feeding.
Would you use a tool like this? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @mother.ly.
Sources:
- Breastfeeding sensor. Nature Biomedical Engineering. A compact, wireless system for continuous monitoring of breast milk expressed during breastfeeding.
- How to tell if your baby is getting enough breastmilk. AAP. How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk.
- Breastfeeding device. Northwestern Now. Got data? Breastfeeding device measures babies’ milk intake in real time.