Introduction
LactApp is a mobile health app designed to provide personalized, evidence-based breastfeeding and maternity support. Built to act like a “lactation consultant LactApp.com in your pocket,” the app answers users’ questions, offers trackers (feeding, baby growth, stools), and supplies tailored guidance from pregnancy through weaning. Google Play+1
Origins & mission
Founded in Barcelona in 2016 by lactation professionals and technologists, LactApp’s mission is to make expert breastfeeding support widely accessible — particularly for parents who can’t quickly reach an in-person consultant. The team has expanded the offering to include a medical/professional version for clinicians. FEMTECH.LIVE+1
Key features
- Personalized consultations: Users answer a few contextual questions (baby’s age, feeding patterns, maternal status, etc.) and receive customized, automated guidance rather than generic articles. Google Play
- Trackers and logs: Feeding trackers, growth charts, and stool logs help parents monitor progress and collect data to share with health providers. LactApp
- Content library: A searchable knowledge base covers common topics — latch, milk supply, pumping/storing breastmilk, mixed feeding, mastitis, tandem nursing, weaning, and more. LactApp
- LactApp Medical: A dedicated version for healthcare professionals that supports clinical practice with evidence summaries, patient tracking, and professional resources. Apple
How it works
The app combines professional lactation knowledge (from IBCLCs and clinical literature) with decision logic to provide fast, contextual answers. It’s intended to help users recognize normal patterns, know when to seek in-person care, and reduce misinformation found online. LactApp also offers paid features and professional subscriptions for institutions. HITLAB+1
Reach and impact
LactApp reports a global user base spanning many countries and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. It is used both directly by parents and by clinicians as a clinical support tool. The app and its workflow have attracted academic interest and been evaluated in mHealth usability and impact studies. FEMTECH.LIVE+2ScienceDirect+2
Evidence & trustworthiness
Independent studies and usability evaluations have examined LactApp’s utility in improving breastfeeding knowledge and clinical decision support. While digital tools can never fully replace hands-on clinical assessment, the published evaluations suggest the app can be a useful adjunct to care when used appropriately. ScienceDirect+1
Privacy & safety
LactApp publishes a privacy policy describing data collection and legal bases for processing (including health-related data when users provide it). Users should review these terms and be mindful about sharing identifiable medical images or sensitive personal data. The app emphasizes that its automated guidance is not a substitute for emergency or urgent medical care. LactApp+1
Who benefits most
- New parents who need quick, trustworthy answers between clinic visits.
- Clinicians who want a tool to support patient education and remote monitoring.
- Health systems and community programs looking to scale lactation support without always requiring face-to-face visits. Apple+1
Limitations & practical advice
- Digital guidance cannot replace in-person assessment for complex issues (severe latch problems, suspected infections, significant infant weight concerns).
- Users should verify any clinical recommendations with local healthcare professionals when in doubt.
- Review the app’s privacy settings and terms before uploading images or detailed medical records. LactApp+1
Conclusion
LactApp is a well-established mHealth tool that brings evidence-based lactation support to a global audience. It’s useful as a first-line resource for common breastfeeding questions and as a support tool for professionals, but it should be used alongside — not instead of — clinical judgment and in-person care when needed.