I remember a few years ago hearing about a breast pump "hackathon" which was an event inviting people to create a better, smarter, and more user friendly breast pump.
We've seen some awesome breast pumps come out since then but they are still very expensive when not covered by insurance.
I was happy to hear about the 2018 Make The Breast Pump Not Suck Hackathon and Paid Family Leave Policy Summit. It is being held April 27-29th at the MIT Media Lab, in Cambridge, MA.
Here is some information from the Make the Breast Pump Not Suck website:
A Case for Breastfeeding Innovation:
Breastfeeding saves lives.
Breastfeeding promotes long-term wellness for mother and baby.
Breastfeeding saves healthcare costs.
Work environments and policies in the US are hostile to breastfeeding.
These are opportunities. Breastfeeding innovation means investing in research and tech, changing public and private policy and shifting social norms.
This awesome event is focusing on making a better breast pump, and is also holding a summit on family leave policies in the United States.
There will also be the introduction of a new book called "Speaking Our Truths" which contains 27 breastfeeding stories about breastfeeding and pumping in the United States.