Welcome to the
FEEDS Study!

A study to increase equity in infant feeding education and support.

Participation

Currently enrolling patients delivering at Swedish Hospital Highland Park Hospital or University of Chicago Medicine.

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Publications

Check out some of the research currently available from our team.

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Resources

Want to learn more about
infant feeding or Peer Counseling? Take a look at these recommended websites.

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What is the FEEDS Study?

A clinical trial for pregnant patients to compare strategies for infant feeding education and support.

WHAT

Most pregnant people plan or want to chest/breastfeed their infant, but people who identify as Black and Hispanic/Latine are less likely to meet their infant feeding goals compared to people of other races and ethnicities. This can increase risk for health problems like infections for infants, and diabetes and heart disease for parents. We are studying whether providing peer counseling as part of pregnancy and postpartum care can help parents to meet their infant feeding goals.

WHY

The FEEDS Study will take place November 2022 – February 2027 at Swedish Hospital, Highland Park Hospital, and University of Chicago Medicine.

WHEN

We are randomly assigning patients who sign up for this study to either usual care or usual care and peer counseling. We will look at whether patients who have peer counseling, especially Black and Hispanic/Latine patients, are more likely to meet their infant feeding goals compared to those who don’t have peer counseling.

HOW

What is Peer Counseling?

Peer Counseling is a type of infant feeding education and support provided by a certified Peer Counselor who has personal experience with chest/breastfeeding. The Peer Counselor provides infant feeding coaching, education and support for patients, during prenatal care, during the postpartum hospital stay and ongoing support after the patient goes home from the hospital.

Meet the Team