Ultrasound Imaging of Breastfeeding--A Window to the Inside: Methodology, Normal Appearances, and Application

Donna T Geddes; Vanessa S Sakalidis

doi:10.1177/0890334415626152

Ultrasound Imaging of Breastfeeding--A Window to the Inside: Methodology, Normal Appearances, and Application

J Hum Lact. 2016 May;32(2):340-9. doi: 10.1177/0890334415626152. Epub 2016 Feb 29.

Authors

Donna T Geddes¹, Vanessa S Sakalidis²

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia donna.geddes@uwa.edu.au.
² Medela AG, Baar, Switzerland.

PMID: 26928319
DOI: 10.1177/0890334415626152

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging has been employed as a noninvasive technique to explore the sucking dynamics of the breastfeeding infant over the past 40 years. Recent improvements in the resolution of ultrasound images have allowed a more detailed description of the tongue movements during sucking, identification of oral structures, and measurements of nipple position and tongue motion. Several different scanning planes can be used and each show sucking from a different perspective. Ultrasound techniques and image anatomy are described in detail in this review and provide the basis for implementation in the objective assessment of breastfeeding.

Keywords: breastfeeding; feeding; imaging; lactation; sucking; ultrasound.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior / physiology*
Infant, Newborn
Mouth / diagnostic imaging*
Mouth / physiology
Nipples / diagnostic imaging*
Nipples / physiology
Sucking Behavior / physiology*
Ultrasonography