Sacred Heart Greenwich became the first independent school in the United States (US) to install Milkmate’s new innovative breast pump in January. Mrs. Patrice Meagher, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), launched Milkmate in 2024 to support women returning from maternity leave with a comfortable breast-pumping solution in work spaces.
When Mrs. Patrice returned to work after the birth of her first child, she was the only woman in her office and experienced firsthand the inefficiencies of pumping at work. She shared her inspiration to make this task more accessible and efficient for maternal employees and employers.
“MilkMate was inspired by my personal and professional experiences,” Mrs. Patrice said. “After spending 20 years in commercial real estate, I developed a deep understanding of construction costs and regulations. During that time, I had four children and breastfed them all. When I returned to work [after having] my first child, I had to pump in a bathroom (which was completely industry agnostic) because there were no laws protecting lactating employees. I barely lasted a few days before feeling like I had to stop. It didn’t even occur to me to ask for something better. Years later, even as laws evolved, I still found myself navigating office spaces designed without pumping parents in mind. […] MilkMate was born from a desire to improve efficiency, not just for myself, but for all working parents.”
As of mid-March, Milkmate has installed 100 lactation rooms in 18 different states and continues to secure partnerships with several other companies. Milkmate’s flagship offering is a revolutionary all-in-one, multi-user pumping system designed specifically for workplace settings. This system includes the Food and Drug Association (FDA) cleared, high-performance breast pump integrated into modular furniture for easy installation and versatile configuration. Also, it features pre-sterilized and pre-assembled breast shield kits, eliminating the need for users to bring personal equipment or spend time on cleaning and assembly, according to milkmate.com.
As a Sacred Heart parent, Mrs. Patrice partnered with the school to support faculty and staff by installing her innovative breast-pumping solution on campus. This initiative not only made breast-pumping more accessible for employees but also provided Upper School students with opportunities for externships and firsthand insight into entrepreneurship. Committed to expanding breast-pumping solutions across various workplaces, Mrs. Patrice emphasized how Milkmate empowers employed mothers while inspiring the next generation of young women to continue advocating for better support systems for women in the workforce.
“MilkMate is more than a workplace solution,” Mrs. Patrice said. “It’s a symbol of progress. By providing fully equipped wellness/mothers rooms, we empower working moms while sending a clear message that companies value and support parents. Even for those who don’t use it, MilkMate is a visible sign that workplaces are evolving. When young women see MilkMate in their workplaces, they recognize that their needs matter, inspiring them to expect and advocate for better support. By making pumping easier today, we’re helping shape a future where workplace support for women and families is the norm.”
Featured Image by Maggie Heffernan ’25
