When I became a mom, I, like so many others, was committed to breastfeeding. I knew the science- heck I worked for UNICEF - it was ingrained in my head about how breast milk is nature’s perfect food, how it protects against infections, boosts development, and creates a powerful bond between mother and child. I preached it daily as part of my work responsibilities: exclusively breastfeed for the first six months. So clearly, I wanted and without question, would give this to my baby.
Until my body wouldn’t do it. Mind over matter didn’t work. My ultra-strong will did not make my baby latch. There was no gain through pain - engorgement, bleeding, lack of sleep. I found myself in complete distress and confusion, breastfeeding was supposed to naturally kick in right? This incredibly happy time was fraught with stress- and I had no choice but to give in --and feed him formula. I felt like an incredible failure, both as a mother and a professional.
And I wasn’t alone. In the U.S., over 80% of moms start out breastfeeding. But by six months, fewer than 25% are still doing it exclusively. That drop-off isn’t because we stop wanting to. It’s because the world isn’t built to support us.
After nearly giving up, two weeks in of pumping constantly with little output, the milk finally started to flow. I cried - it truly was like striking oil! For more than a year, I would continue successfully to feed and pump. It truly was a very personal, monumental feat of self-will, determination and sacrifice. While I succeeded to exclusively breastfeed, it was not without facing numerous battles. One of the daily obstacles I faced was the logistics of pumping and storing milk safely. And what shocked me was that in all the years of innovation around breast pumps, now hands-free, wearable, Bluetooth-connected, no one had updated how we store the milk we work so hard to produce.
At the time, moms were expected to rely on ineffective, plastic-lined canvas bags with a giant ice pack that lasted no longer than a few hours that could not guarantee safe temperatures. I was a traveling, working mother, how could I succeed with a system like that? Finding clean, accessible and trustworthy fridges is not always possible. So what did moms like me do? We'd cobble up makeshift solutions, stress out like a ticking time bomb, or toss out their literally hard-earned liquid gold down the sink. Heartbreaking.
That’s why I created the MilKeeper to finally solve this overlooked problem. It’s the first breast milk storage solution of its kind that combines the technology of the double walled, stainless steel vacuum bottle with a fully integrated ice pack to keep breast milk cold and safe for up to 20 hours, without electricity. No batteries, no melting ice, just peace of mind.
Even if you're not traveling or working out of the home, no one talks about how brutal it is for every breastfeeding mom to wake up every few hours, not just to feed, but to pump, because your body doesn't care that you're exhausted. It’s on a schedule. If you miss a session, your supply suffers, or worse, you get engorged. (which always happened to me!) Then imagine having to get out of bed, walk to the fridge, label bags, and wake up to that fluorescent light from the fridge to remind you of how little sleep you are getting.
The MilKeeper changes that. You can pump and store right beside your bed or your desk, no fridge needed. And it’s compact enough to fit in your diaper bag, your purse, or your carry-on. It’s freedom, confidence, and security, all packed into one beautifully designed container.
We're So Much More Than a Storage Solution.
But the MilKeeper isn’t just about milk safety. It’s also about the invisible cost of breastfeeding that nobody talks about. The loss of time, pumping in rigid 3-hour intervals. The mental load of being the only source of nutrition for a baby who depends on you entirely. The pressure to keep going, even when you're sleep-deprived, stressed, or overwhelmed.
I poured my heart into inventing the MilKeeper not just to protect milk, but to protect moms. We deserve tools that honor our effort, our time, and our sanity. Moms deserve to feel like their hard work isn’t being wasted - literally or emotionally.
The MilKeeper is the innovation I wish I had when I was in the thick of it. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about empowering moms to meet their breastfeeding goals without sacrificing their peace of mind AND doing the things that they love. It’s about giving back time, reducing stress, and making sure that every drop of effort counts.
To me, Mila’s Keeper is my way of saying: we see you, mama. We see your hustle, your heartbreak, your determination. And we’re here to help you carry that load, literally and figuratively.
We’re not here just to solve a storage problem, we’re redefining what’s possible as a breastfeeding mom.
