The PREPARE Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you less than 37 weeks pregnant with your first baby and planning to breastfeed? Was your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) 25 or greater? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study about video-based breastfeeding and infant care education. Participation involves remote or in-person visits and collection of breastmilk samples and body measurements. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to find out if providing video-based education in pregnancy has an effect on maternal experiences and behaviors after the baby is born. 

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Healthy first-time mother between less than 37 weeks pregnant
• Pregnant with one healthy baby
• Plan to breastfeed
• Plan to deliver your baby at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
• Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater BEFORE pregnancy: BMI calculator
• No medical conditions requiring delivery of the baby before 37 weeks of gestation (e.g., placenta previa, preeclampsia, developmental abnormalities of baby)
• No history of breast reduction surgery or breast radiation therapy
• Not diagnosed with diabetes (type I, type II, or gestational)
• Cell phone with unlimited text message plan
• Access to electronic-device capable of video-conferencing (e.g., smart phone, tablet, laptop computer)
• English-speaking
   

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation involves up to 4 remote or in-person visits before your baby is born (conducted via remote video session or coordinated with your in-person prenatal appointments). After your baby is born, there will be up to 5 remote or in-person contacts with the study team over 12 months. Participation includes remote education, surveys, and optional collection of breastmilk samples and body measurements (you and baby).

If interested and eligible for this study, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to one of two different video-based education groups: 1) a series of videos on various aspects of infant care and development, or 2) video instruction from a lactation consultant on hand expression of breast milk in pregnancy