Although a recent study concluded that “[f]eeding the infant from the breast during the work day is the most effective strategy for combining breastfeeding and work,” that’s simply not possible for many women. It’s no wonder. To support this goal, the researchers called for “on-site child care, telecommuting, keeping the infant at work, allowing the mother to leave work to go to the infant, and having the infant brought to the work site.” Most women who are employed outside the home don’t have these options.

Unfortunately, it seems they’re unlikely to get such accommodations anytime soon. Family-friendly policies seem to be an early victim of a down economy. And even though some states have passed laws to ensure that women have time and space to express their milk in the workplace, one survey found that more than half (56.5%) of women said they quit breastfeeding within the first year for reasons related to work or school.

Help is on the way?
Overcoming these barriers so that women could breastfeed their babies longer was the driving force behind the development of Dao Health’s Freemie breast milk collection system. The Freemie system is a pair of milk collection devices that are placed inside the bra; these connect to a standard breast pump. The built-in flange is placed over the nipple in much the same way as other breast pump flanges, but the milk collection mechanism is built in. The tubes to the breast pump can hang down underneath a woman’s shirt. Since so much of the breast pumping equipment can reside under her shirt and since the collection devices operate hands-free, people around a woman using the Freemie might not even realize she is pumping.

How would this help?
After she gave birth to preemie twins, emergency room doctor Stella Dao realized that the demands of her job would make finding time and private space to pump extremely difficult.  She enlisted the help of her husband, Dan Garbez, asking him to develop a product that would enable her to pump milk while treating her patients. The device he came up with wasn’t quite that portable. Made using “a glue gun and Tupperware,” it connected to a traditional breast pump that she couldn’t carry around. Still, the hands-free system did enable Dr. Dao to continue her work, perform deskwork, and even participate in meetings—all while pumping her milk.

What’s it like?
The Freemie device is bigger than you’d expect from something a woman is supposed to fit in her bra with her breast. The hard plastic exterior makes it somewhat cumbersome to slip the device in and out of the bra, although its stability probably helps keep the milk from leaking when the device is being removed from the bra.

The Freemie system can be inserted in the bra from below or from above, depending on the woman’s preference and comfort. A good bra and the right outfit seem to be the keys to really discreet pumping with the Freemie. (Although Dan Garbez reports that the product was tested by users of “all shapes and sizes” during the development process, this reviewer was unable to wear the Freemie unobtrusively—but did not try many different bras before conceding defeat.) Women who are considering the device are encouraged to think about their own clothing and style preferences. Also, they are strongly encouraged to check out the “Is the Freemie system right for you?” document and to watch the videos on the product web site. After purchase, they are encouraged to practice placing the device at home, trying it with different bras, and to think through their attire before they take it to work.

Women who are choosing the Freemie so that they can pump at their desk should be aware that they will probably want to find a private space to place the device in their bra, at least initially. Dr. Dao explains that “an inexperienced Freemie system user should not be facile or discreet with the device. A new user should be especially careful that the nipple is fully within the funnel and the Freemie is properly positioned in the bra.” The solution, Garbez explains, is for the mother to leave her pump at her desk, take the Freemie system with her to the bathroom or some private room where she can place them inside her bra, ensuring the nipple is positioned properly, and then return to her workspace, where she can hook the vacuum tubes hanging under her shirt to the pump. When she is done pumping, she would return to the private room to remove the devices and transfer her milk to bottles or bags for storage.

A few caveats
The Freemie is not the right breast milk removal system for every woman. Although the company has patented a variety of “shapes and sizes with different operational and aesthetic characteristics,” the first commercial version of the Freemie is geared to meet the needs of most women. It has 25mm breast funnel, which is designed to fit most women, but it won’t meet the needs of those who need a smaller flange, a larger flange, or prefer a soft silicone funnel.

Another design issue is that each Freemie device can only hold four ounces. Since the system is out of view, it may be difficult for women to tell when they’re cups are full. Those who produce more milk will find that their cups truly do runneth over. (Theoretically, this may lead to milk backup in the system’s tubing, which has been a concern of some traditional breast pumps.)

In addition, women who need to watch their milk ejection reflex while pumping will not be well-served by an out-of-sight system like this, and those who massage their breasts while pumping (as recommended by a recent study covered previously in babygooroo) will also find it a poor choice.

Finally, the Freemie currently works only with breast pumps manufactured by Hygeia and Medela.

The bottom line
It’s unfortunate that there must be so much concern about the limited time and meager space a woman needs to express her milk. It calls to mind recent comments by GE’s former CEO Jack Welch: “There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences … We’d love to have more women moving up faster. But they’ve got to make the tough choices and know the consequences of each one.” It seems indicative of a workplace culture that would rather blame women for their time and space needs than support women in making the choices that lead to better health all around. Let’s advocate for the passage of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, finally, shall we?

In the meantime, hands-free devices that support breastfeeding would seem to be the answer for mothers who are pressed for time and private space to pump at work. Heck, having something like an extra pair of hands or being able to multi-task often seems like a good thing.

Unlike the commercial hands-free nursing bras and tips for rigging standard flanges, the Freemie promises out-of-sight, under-the-shirt pumping. (The Whisper Wear pump also pumps under the woman’s shirt, but it seems more difficult to assemble and some reviewers have expressed concern about the vacuum strength.) However, it’s a specialized device and women who are interested in the product should—as with all such decisions—do their research before purchasing the system. Luckily, the Freemie web site offers a wealth of candid information that supports informed decision-making.