What will participation in this study involve?

Participating in this study will involve:

1. Completing 4-5 surveys regarding psychological health, general health, infant temperament, and mother-infant bonding, at 1 and 6 months following delivery.

2. Self-swabbing from the right forearm, nostrils, and mouth, from the mother and baby, at 1 and 6 months following delivery.

3. Collecting fecal samples from the mother and baby, and breastmilk at 1 and 6 months following delivery.

 

How do I know if I am eligible for this study?

To be eligible for the study, you must be:​

- Older than 18 years of age

- Directly breastfeeding your infant for the first month following delivery

- Planning to breastfeed in the 6 months following delivery

- Planning to return to work 4-10 weeks after delivery

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How will I receive what I need for the study? How do I send my samples back?

You will receive a sampling kit with all the materials necessary, which will include instructions on how to sample you and your baby.

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The sampling kit will be sent to and from the address you provide through Uber Health. All samples must be sent back the same day they are collected.

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The questionnaires will be sent online, and can be completed on a phone, tablet or laptop.

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How will my privacy be protected throughout and after the study?

Personal identifiers and data collected will be kept within a password-protected device, only accessible by a team approved by the Rutgers Institutional Review Board.

The study data will be de-identified following the end of the study.

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Will I have to be in-person?

Completing the questionnaire and sampling will occur in the comfort of your own home. Communication with the Principal Investigator, to determine eligibility for the study, may be done remotely or in person.

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Will I receive compensation for participating in the study?

Yes, but the amount of compensation depends on whether you choose to join the Baby-friendly lactation space or the standard daycare group. 

- The standard daycare group will receive a $100 Visa gift card per month.

- The Baby-friendly lactation space group will receive a $300 Visa gift card per month.

This compensation is intended as assistance for the cost of childcare.