Freemie Blog Creating the Freemie System

Every year millions of women struggle to balance the demands of their families, their work, and their desire to continue breastfeeding. But about 9 out of 10 women returning to work after maternity leave give up breastfeeding earlier than is recommended. When I went back to work in a busy ER after having preemie twins I found that I simply could not work and pump as much as I needed. During my struggles, I was inspired with an idea that led me to develop the Freemie system. The Freemie systemThe system works with quality pumps, and is intended to help moms who want to breastfeed get more out of their time. With the Freemie system, moms can sustain lactation through pumping and continue to breastfeed even if they lack the time or privacy necessary to undress and pump with traditional horns and collection bottles.As a physician who became a mother, I also felt the pressure that moms experience when they are forced to make choices about how to care for their children. I realized moms in many situations in the modern world really didn't have the tools to succeed at breastfeeding before the Freemie system, even though we put great pressure on them to do so.If you choose to breastfeed and pump, my Freemie system gives you a multitude of more attractive options because it works with a variety of popular quality pumps that are necessary to sustain lactation during periods of separation from your baby. And importantly, with the Freemie system you can use your preferred hospital grade pump in exponentially more places, since you don't have to undress, don't require privacy, and can choose the timing and frequency of your pumping sessions to suit your needs better in just about any given environment.In the short time since we made the Freemie system available for purchase, I have been especially gratified to hear from women across the country about how we have helped them, often in ways I never even imagined! I am inspired daily by the creativity and diligence of mothers everywhere, who manage to do so much during the day for their babies, their families, and often their employers too.Safety and qualityI also know how important safety and quality are in the products you use to care for your family. That's why we make the Freemie system from safe, certified materials. And I personally used the first production model of the Freemie system to pump for my third baby for well over a year through 12 hour shifts.Moms helping momsWhen you start to experience the benefits of the Freemie system, please join us in supporting all breastfeeding mothers, and pay it forward by sharing your story. Tell your doctor, your mommies group, your employer, your friends, your social networks, and even your insurance company how you make pumping and breastfeeding work. Share pictures or videos of yourself pumping where women could not pump before. And please share your story with us, by emailing us at info@freemie.com. If sharing your story helps just one more mother continue to breastfeed, by showing her how she can succeed with a pump in her situation, you will help her baby too.About the Author: Dr. Dao, inventor of the Freemie system, is a board-certified practicing physician in northern California, where she lives with her husband and children.