INSIGHT Update Autumn 2023

The INSIGHT study continues to go from strength to strength!  Following the completion of a successful pilot phase earlier this year we have now transitioned into the main study.  We are really pleased to have expanded our clinical team to four members, albeit with a sense of sadness as we bid farewell to Alex Fry, the lead research midwife since 2022. Alex’s enthusiasm and dedication was key to the success of INSIGHT so we thank her for all her hard work and wish her luck with her new endeavours!

In early September, we achieved a significant milestone in our recruitment efforts, with the enrolment of our 250th participant. As we move into autumn, our participant numbers continue to grow. We are particularly delighted that many are undertaking multiple study visits. We thank all those mums who allowed us to do three or four study visits – amazing!

Our current focus is the collection of colostrum and early breast milk samples. Obviously taking samples at this very sensitive time period is really challenging, especially when milk is coming in and not in abundant supply. This is probably why this research has not been done before! Thanks to the cooperation of our participants and the dedication of our team, we have made significant progress in this area.  We will continue to prioritise collections of these invaluable samples as we move into 2024.  We are eagerly anticipating the data that will be generated from these samples and are confident our study will yield valuable insights.

We remain incredibly grateful for the amazing support and kindness of our participants, who continue to make our study a success.  Their willingness to take part has been truly inspiring and we cannot thank them enough for their generosity.

Learn more about the INSIGHT Study

Amy Archer, Lead Research Midwife

Feedback from INSIGHT Participants:

“We were really pleased to take part in the study and contribute to research that might help other breastfeeding mums. It was well organised, and the researchers were friendly and approachable., and answered all our queries.  We really appreciated having the home visits and the extra advice and support with breastfeeding, ourselves.”

CAROLINE, INSIGHT participant.

“I highly enjoyed this study and actually found it helpful as a new breastfeeding mother.  They were kind and supportive and gave me lots of advice on breastfeeding.  To the point I found it was more a service for me, rather than me doing a service for them.  It’s for a great cause, with great people”

JESSICA, INSIGHT participant.

“I am so pleased I took part in this study.  The research team were so lovely and made participation really easy – coming to see both in hospital and at home. When little one was struggling to latch, the team were on hand to give support and advice around feeding which was invaluable.”

KAT, INSIGHT participant.

“Signing up to be a part of the insight programme was one of the best decisions I made through my pregnancy journey. From their first visit in the hospital on the day I gave birth, I was greeted with a friendly face and offered personal support and feedback on my new baby's latch and positioning. I was so grateful that they then came to my home to continue that support and I am certain that this is the reason why 4 months on I am still able to breastfeed my baby. The samples they ask for in return are really nothing in comparison to the help you receive, and it is nice to think you are helping future mums. I would whole heartedly recommend singing up to this programme if you plan to breastfeed :)”

ALISON, INSIGHT participant.