Clinicians and engineers at the University of Florida College of Medicine have developed artificial intelligence models that they’re now applying to make this a reality for families delivering babies at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The Maximizing Initiatives for Lactation Knowledge, or MILK+, project combines the skills of physicians, nurses and AI engineers to identify mothers who are not producing enough breastmilk for their babies and increase lactation upon discharge for a particularly vulnerable population: premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. As the AI models continue to improve, the team hopes to make these insights common practice to supplement the care patients already receive.

Breastfeeding has so many potential benefits for both mother and child, yet people have a misconception that it should come easily since it’s a natural process. In practice it can be extremely challenging, particularly for mothers of vulnerable patients such as those admitted to the NICU, said project lead Helen Hu, M.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics.

Breastfeeding offers many health benefits to mother and child: Research has shown that for the mother, it can help with the postpartum recovery process and lower risk for conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and breast and ovarian cancers. While lactation initiation in Florida is above the national average at 85%, the duration of lactation falls significantly over time, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.

Source: https://news.drgator.ufl.edu/2025/07/21/ai-model-breastfeeding-nicu/