Scientists are to spend £174,000 asking mothers whether they breast or bottle feed their babies.
Researchers from the University of Dundee are to embark on the project, which they say will help form the most complete picture of the feeding choices made by new mothers in the city.
The "Feeding Your Baby" initiative funded by the Chief Scientists Office, will see a team headed by Dr Heather Whitford of the School of Nursing and Midwifery find out more about women's decisions regarding their preferred method of infant feeding.
They will explore whether or not these decisions change following delivery of the baby, and the factors that help or hinder their choice.
From mid-November onwards, community midwives will approach up to 350 women in Dundee when they are over 30 weeks pregnant about taking part in the study.
Participants will complete an initial questionnaire then an exit questionnaire in the first five months after delivery. All women will be included in the study, regardless of the method of feeding they intend to use.
Dr Whitford said: "The purpose of this study is to explore what womens' opinions are when they are pregnant. We want to know how they plan to feed their baby, how this changes after they have their baby, why their plans may change, and how they can be supported in the choices they have made.
"During the final telephone questionnaire, we will ask the mothers how their views on their feeding choices changed after giving birth and during the first few weeks and months of their baby’s lives.
"Further down the line when we'll be forming focus groups to speak to some of the women in more detail about their experiences and how their choices could have been more effectively supported.
"Ultimately, we are aiming to help improve the care women are offered, and to support them with their feeding choices.
"The study will allow us to find out exactly what the situation is in Dundee and to identify the key points where women have difficulties or change their feeding method."
