By Page H. Gifford
Jenny Lynde Walding understands the bond that can form between a mother and baby through breastfeeding.
She also knows it is not only about bonding; it is about helping a baby receive the nutrients and antibodies needed for a healthy start in life.
Originally from Texas, Walding holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and graphic design, as well as a master’s degree in design. She and her husband spent five years in Australia, where her first child was born.
“I breastfed, but my baby was failing to thrive,” she said.
It was not until her daughter was diagnosed with a tongue-tie — a condition in which tissue under the tongue restricts movement and can make it difficult for a baby to latch — that Walding understood why her baby was not getting enough milk.
“For the longest time, I believed it was my problem and not my baby’s inability to latch on properly during breastfeeding,” she said.
Today, both of Walding’s daughters are happy and healthy. But the experience stayed with her and eventually led her to invent a product designed to help lactating women better understand how well their babies are feeding.
The result was Milkmade, a company focused on modernizing breastfeeding support.
The core product is a sensor-enabled feeding device that provides real-time feeding data during the early postpartum period. A companion mobile app translates that data into practical information, tracks patterns over time, and helps parents know when they may need professional support.
According to the CDC, about 86 percent of U.S. babies start out breastfeeding, but only about one in four are exclusively breastfed through six months. Walding said those numbers point to a need for better support for families who want to continue breastfeeding.
“My goal is to have Milkmade be equitable and accessible to women who want to breastfeed,” Walding said. “We’re mission-focused: breastfeeding should be accessible and equitable for all, which is why we were selected for the Charles R. Drew University BIP Accelerator out of Los Angeles.”
Walding, a Certified Lactation Counselor, is also a graduate of RAMP in Roanoke and works with Activation Capital in Richmond, a Virginia state authority and nonprofit organization focused on accelerating innovation and economic development in the life sciences and advanced technology sectors.
She said mothers have long had to rely on complicated and sometimes unreliable ways to determine how much milk their babies are receiving.
“The old way was using a breastfeeding management guide, monitoring a baby’s urine and feces, and scales, and all this was time-consuming and unreliable,” she said. “Milkmade has a lactation flow meter with direct volume output.”
One of the most common reasons mothers stop breastfeeding, Walding said, is concern that they are not producing enough milk.
That uncertainty can be especially difficult for mothers who do not have easy access to lactation support. Walding said Milkmade is meant to give parents clearer information during those early days, when worry can quickly turn into doubt.
“What Milkmade is addressing is that the number one reason for breastfeeding cessation is perceived insufficient milk supply and low supply,” she said. “Currently, there is no way to tell the difference.”
Her device is designed to measure intake and output, helping mothers better understand whether their babies are getting enough milk. Walding said reducing the guesswork can make breastfeeding a better, less stressful experience and help parents know when they may need additional support.
With two patents pending, she is now working to bring the device to market. She is seeking grants, donations, investments and partnerships to help get Milkmade into the hands of families who could benefit from it.
To learn more about Jenny Lynde Walding’s work, visit https://milkmade.me/
