LatchAid reveals results of its first NHS trial

The six-month NHS trial found that women who use the app breastfeed for longer compared to those who don’t.

LatchAid is a breastfeeding and early parenthood support application that has gained 7,000 users across 94 countries since 2021.

The app uses pioneering 3D and AI technology and users have two times higher exclusive breastfeeding rate than the England average.

The NHS trial studied data from 6 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, finding that 77 per cent of participant found the app useful in helping to establish breastfeeding.

LatchAid founder Dr Chen Mao Davies said: “Traditionally, the UK has one of the worst breastfeeding rates in the world, with the vast majority of women giving up before they want to.

“Breastfeeding is natural, it’s bonding and it gives the baby antibodies, but nobody tells you how difficult and painful it can be. In my own experience, I developed mastitis and thrush, the baby’s weight dropped and I often faced long lonely nights not knowing what to do.”

In addition to use 3D avatars and 3D interactive technologies, LatchAid also connects breastfeeding mothers to virtual networks to provide peer-support.

One of the trial participants said: “I think the ability to ask questions is great, especially when you can basically access help in the middle of the night when you normally feel all alone.

“The LatchAid graphics are so helpful to understand where I’m going wrong. I’m hoping in conjunction with health professionals this will help us to improve and be able to stop using nipple shields eventually.”

The company is planning to expand its focus to the first 1,000 days of parenthood, helping parents getting through different challenges associated with different phases of parenthood.

LatchAid will be rebranding later this year to support this enlargement plan.

LatchAid has also been recently named no. 22 in Health Tech World top 50 innovators of 2022.