Zhou Beibei, Liang Ruixin, Zhang Jun, Li Xiaolu, Broach Zowie, Yip Joanne
School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Design Department, Royal College of Art, London SW7 2EU, UK.
Sensors (Basel). 2024 Nov 29;24(23):7641. doi: 10.3390/s24237641.
The position that a woman adopts during breastfeeding is important for both infant and maternal health; however, many women experience musculoskeletal pain due to poor posture during breastfeeding, which is a known factor in low exclusive breastfeeding rates. Posture monitoring is an effective intervention, but existing wearable devices do not consider the ergonomics of nursing mothers and breastfeeding scenarios. In this study, nursing underwear was developed with posture monitoring and a real-time feedback system using accelerometers and flexible bending sensors targeting the neck and upper thoracic spine. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Chinese mothers to identify key challenges and inform the design. After designing and producing the prototype, wear trials were conducted with two participants who tested both the prototype and a commercial sample while holding a 4 kg baby doll. Video recordings and questionnaires were used to assess the underwear's effectiveness. The results showed improvements in postural alignment and an increase in the frequency and duration of relaxation periods. Participants reported that the prototype surpassed the commercial sample in functionality, comfort, and aesthetics. These findings are significant for postpartum health and provide guidelines for future smart nursing garment development.
女性在母乳喂养期间所采取的姿势对婴儿和母亲的健康都很重要；然而，许多女性因母乳喂养时姿势不佳而出现肌肉骨骼疼痛，这是纯母乳喂养率低的一个已知因素。姿势监测是一种有效的干预措施，但现有的可穿戴设备没有考虑到哺乳期母亲的人体工程学和母乳喂养场景。在本研究中，开发了一种带有姿势监测和实时反馈系统的哺乳内衣，该系统使用加速度计和针对颈部和上胸椎的柔性弯曲传感器。对12名中国母亲进行了半结构化访谈，以确定关键挑战并为设计提供参考。在设计并制作出原型后，让两名参与者在抱着一个4公斤重的娃娃时对原型和一个商业样品进行了穿戴测试。通过视频记录和问卷调查来评估内衣的有效性。结果显示姿势 alignment 得到改善，放松期的频率和持续时间增加。参与者报告说，该原型在功能性、舒适性和美观性方面超过了商业样品。这些发现对产后健康具有重要意义，并为未来智能哺乳服装的开发提供了指导方针。
