New breast pump perfect for the needs of working moms

Two working moms believe they have the solution for experienced and new breastfeeding moms who wish to have an unlimited supply of milk for their little ones.

It comes in the form of an electronic, hands-free, rechargeable and wearable breast pump.

Mukondi Ralushayi Kgomo and Nkgabiseng Motau aim to improve women’s lives and believe that innovation is key. They believe for moms to be able to attend meetings, care for other children or work on a business plan, while wearing a pump was a life hack well worth investing in.

The pair, who run a creative agency called Think Creative Africa in Johannesburg, were pregnant at the same time and while on maternity leave they still wanted to be hands-on in their business.

But expressing breast milk was no joy for either of them as available pumps were cumbersome, with noisy motors that could wake babies from their sleep. They had too many parts to clean and not enough milk yield. To reduce the agony, the idea of Milq was born.

The product recently had a soft launch and the innovators said it was being well received in the market.

“We see ourselves as entrepreneurs, mavericks, and mothers and while women can be many things, it seems that we are not able to be all these things at the same time,” said Motau.

“We wanted to change that by finding a creative and valuable solution for ourselves and we have found one for all breastfeeding and pumping mothers,” she said.

Motau said their creation was userfriendly and was designed with all moms in mind.

“We have thought of the challenges faced by moms who may not have the knowledge or time to deal with a complicated pump.

“You can wear Milq and pump while the baby sleeps or while you conduct meetings. It has adjustable modes so moms can pick the most comfortable one for themselves. It’s easy to set up, easy to clean and fits into any bra,” she said.

Kgomo said that returning to work after maternity leave meant having to balance pumping time with work. She struggled to do both, which meant less milk for her now 2-year-old daughter.

“My pump wasn’t hands-free so I couldn’t work and pump at the same time. It was also not discreet in appearance and noisy, which meant I couldn’t pump when I needed to.”

Kgomo said the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding and this means pumping for at least five to six months of a child’s life.

“Breastfeeding moms’ milk is responsive, it is made daily to suit the baby’s nutritional and immunity needs. A photo of how this change looks went viral where a Covid-positive mom’s milk was luminous green, a new antidote that helps baby fight the virus.

“That’s why we love this product so much. It allows moms to breastfeed their babies no matter where they are. It’s easy to set up and easy to clean and it’s a new mom’s ally,” she said.