When my son was born, my family entered a world of exhaustion, uncertainty, and, to be honest, sheer survival. He was a beautiful, tiny little thing—so tiny, in fact, that he was underweight and needed as much breast milk as we could provide. Every drop of that milk felt like gold, but the challenges I faced as a new parent quickly became overwhelming.
Like so many new parents, I found myself in a constant state of fog-brain. Sleep deprivation was my constant companion. I was up around the clock, feeding my son to keep up with his needs, but there was one thing I just couldn’t manage: remembering the rules around breast milk storage and expiration.
I’m sure many of you have been there. Between the late-night feedings and early-morning diaper changes, trying to remember all the little details about milk storage—like how long breast milk can stay at room temperature or in the fridge—was nearly impossible. The CDC guidelines are great in theory, but they were a blur in the haze of sleep deprivation. And then there was the constant worry: Had I left the bottle out for too long? Was the milk still good? Did I accidentally spoil it?
The real turning point came one day when I left yet another bottle of precious breast milk out for too long. I was devastated and felt a tsunami of guilt wash over our household. That milk could have made all the difference for my son’s health and weight gain, but I had missed the window of safety. I knew there had to be a better way—a system that could handle the logistics of milk management so I could focus on the other aspects of caring for my newborn.
I searched high and low for a product or system that could do the thinking, remembering, and reminding for me. Something that could track milk storage times, alert me when a bottle was about to expire, and give me peace of mind that I wasn’t wasting precious liquid gold. But everything I found was either too complicated or didn’t quite do what I needed. I was left with no choice but to take matters into my own hands.
And that’s when I had an idea.
What if I could create a solution that would help new parents like me—tired, sleep-deprived parents—track and manage their breast milk with ease? A system that would remind me when milk was about to spoil, track how much milk I had left, and even provide advice based on the latest health guidelines? It would be a tool that would make every drop of milk count, ensuring that nothing went to waste, even in the fog of new parenthood.
So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I started sketching out the idea, talking to other parents, researching the science behind breast milk storage, and pulling together a team of people who could help me turn this idea into a reality. It wasn’t easy—nothing worth doing ever is—but I knew I had to do it. Not just for myself, but for every new parent out there who was struggling to keep track of their breast milk.
And that’s how HoopDee was born.
We created a system—a smart, intuitive tool that helps parents manage their breast milk like never before. Our app tracks storage times, sends gentle reminders, and gives you the confidence to know that every bottle or bag of milk you’re storing is safe, fresh, and being used to its full potential. It’s designed to ease the burden on new parents, allowing them to focus on the joy of their newborn without worrying about every little detail. (SPOILER ALERT! The entire system has not been introduced to the public at the time of the release of this blog post.)
Looking back, it feels like a whirlwind—one that started with a sleepless night, an exhausted mind, and a desperate need for a solution. But that moment of frustration was the catalyst that led to something incredible. What began as a way to solve my own problem has now become a tool that helps parents all over the country every day.
My son is now thriving, and I’ve learned so much along the way—not just about parenthood, but about entrepreneurship, perseverance, and the power of turning personal challenges into meaningful solutions. I couldn’t be prouder of where this journey has taken me, and I’m excited for what’s to come.
To all the parents out there struggling through those sleepless nights: I see you, I’ve been there, and I hope my startup makes your journey a little easier.
Because every drop counts.
