Overcoming Regrets on Past Mistakes

In a groundbreaking event, the "Make The Breast Pump Not Suck" Hackathon, held at the MIT Media Lab, saw a significant victory for the team named "Unseen Milk." The team's innovative design, the Mighty Mom Utility Belt, won them a $10,000 prize and a trip to California to discuss potential investments.

Led by mother and user experience designer Erin Freeburger, Team Batman proposed a CamelBak-style backpack for pumping breast milk on-the-go. However, the design evolved during the hackathon into a utility belt with tubes that can be transformed into ZipTubes for easy cleaning. The utility belt features a quiet motor, hands-free operation, and easy-clean ZipTubes.

The hackathon aimed to revamp the breast pump, a device that is nearly as maligned as it is necessary. The event attracted participants who shared a common goal: to improve the breast pumping experience for the estimated 25% of new mothers who pump daily. The experience is often described as unpleasant, making significant change a potential first step.

Anya Burkart, a biological engineering graduate student at MIT, expressed the need for change in the breast pumping experience. She hopes for real-world application from the hackathon, as breast milk, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for babies up to 6 months old, if possible, is crucial for many mothers.

The hackathon was organized by a group of Media Lab students and researchers who are also parents. They asked for suggestions to improve the pumping experience, and teams like Team Batman rose to the challenge. Team Batman recognizes the responsibility that comes with accepting the prize, as many hackathon ideas never mature due to lack of follow-through.

The "Make The Breast Pump Not Suck" Hackathon marks a potential turning point in the breast pumping experience. With designs like the Mighty Mom Utility Belt and the ZipTubes, the future of breast pumping may become more convenient, discreet, and user-friendly.