In Israel, Women ‘Juggle It All’ With Motherhood, Degrees, Even High-Tech Startups

“Almost half of all women have doubted their breast milk at times, and 60 percent have thrown away pumped breast milk,” she added.

In just three minutes, the app analyzes the Vitamin C content of milk, which is crucial for the immune development of babies. “People are especially worried about this during the coronavirus,” she related. If Vitamin C is low, the kit will offer suggestions, such as adding certain supplements or eating certain fruits or vegetables before pumping or breastfeeding.

During the pandemic, she emphasized, “people are staying at home more and making milk stashes that they will have waiting in their freezer for longer. Before, they would pump and then go to work, and use the milk later. But now, they give the milk in two to three weeks because they go out less, so the question is even more important.”

“We thought that fewer people would use breast pumps during coronavirus, but the purchase of breast pumps went up because you don’t want a baby attached to you all the time, and many women are also busy with other kids,” said Beck, who noted that their web traffic has significantly increased recently.

‘Technology and innovations that can enrich lives’

MilkStrip officially launched in the United Kingdom and the United States a month-and-a-half ago, with clinical trials beginning in Israel, where the entrepreneurs noted that birth rates are especially high.

“Israel is unique; our population is highly educated with a huge percentage earning multiple degrees compared to other countries. On the other hand, while most of the Western world is decreasing in the number of children per family, Israel shows the opposite trend—even in the general population, not including religious Muslims and Jews. So while women have many children, they are also educated and have careers,” said Shatz-Azouly.