Hi my name is Joanna!
I am a South Florida native, daughter of Ecuadorian immigrant parents, wife to an incredible man, mama to a strong willed daughter who loves all things pink, a fiery threenager with the best laugh, and the happiest little rascal who keeps me on my toes. I come from a family with very humble beginnings and relentless work ethic. I am incredibly proud of my roots and strive to follow in my family's foot steps.

I was inspired to create Mumzees out of my own breastfeeding story. At 39 weeks pregnant with my first baby, I was diagnosed with preclampsia. With fear for mine and my baby's health, I was rushed to the ER and immediately induced. Although our labor and delivery was fairly smooth, I was put on magnesium drip post labor to keep my blood pressure low which delayed my milk from "coming in." Let's just say, it was not fun. I had wanted nothing more than for my labor to go according to my birth plan and to exclusively breast feed my baby from the beginning. Insteaad, I found myself bed ridden in a cold hospital room, weak, healing from labor and on a liquid diet. I was so gratfeul for formula when I couldn't produce milk, but wanted to give it my best shot at breastfeeding my baby.

I continued to practice latching and breastfeeding before each formula feed. It was those skin to skin moments, holding her close and feeling physically connected to her when trying to breastfeed, that I cherish the most from those hazy hospital days.

From the moment I stepped into that hospital, I had tapped into a new found strength that I didn't know I had. The kind of strength we (mothers) only know of.

A few days later, I was wheeled out of the hospital with my baby in my arms and we were sent off to live our happily ever after. Like most new parents, we were overwhelmed with happiness but uncertain about the journey that lied ahead.Our baby's tummy was not doing well with formula and although I continued to practice latching and breastfeeding, I was still not producing milk. That is until, the day my sister came to the rescue. She had been breastfeeding my niece for about eight months when she walked through my front door one sunny afternoon with my niece on her hip, a cooler that held two little medela bottles filled with her pumped breastmilk, and a stack of lactation cookies on a paper plate. The breastmilk in those bottles was this beautiful, buttery, yellow color. At the top sat a thick white cream that resembled yogurt. It was something I had never seen before. We warmed up the milk, and poured it into a bottle to feed my baby with it. Up until then, she was drinking very small amounts of her formula so I didn't think she would drink much of the milk we had just prepared for her, but when my five pound, thirteen ounce, little newborn got a taste of that sweet liquid gold, her eyes opened wide and she chugged that bottle down faster than I could say "paced bottle feeding." I had yet to see her drink with that much satisfaction. My sister walked me through all my pumping questions, hot and cold compresses, nipple butter, and how lactation cookies had helped her. This day was pivotal in my breastfeeding journey. I was just about ready to call it quits, but a little sisterly love, some tools to help out, and yummy lactation cookies were just what the doctor ordered. My sister's support left me feeling encouraged and empowered to keep trying and with continued efforts, and my delicious lactation cookies, my milk finally came in seven days later. I went on to breastfeed my baby girl until she finally self weaned at twelve months old. Although my first baby no longer breastfed, there was one thing we continued to have on hand. My lactation cookies of course. I had never heard of lactation cookies prior to the day my sister came over and brought me some. I recall finally taking time after a long busy day of being a mommy, to sit in my robe and pump for a while with a warm cup of tea and a couple of my lactation cookies in hand. Aside from a hot shower, It was the only "Me" time I really had during those first few blurryy months. When I started pumping, I would notice I would pump twice as much milk after eating a few lactation cookies and when I gifted my lactation cookies to friends, they noticed the same! They were quite a hit with all the lactating AND non lactating people in my life. I realized these cookies were not only amazing lactation cookies, they were good cookies period! I don't know how I couldv'e gotten through my breastfeeding journey wihtout my lactation cookies being the perfect snack during those extra hungry breastfeeding days, all while helping me produce more milk. I am so proud of how far we have come, and I am extremely passionate about bringing more joy to all lactating mamas.

I am beyond grateful for the honor of experiencing this journey through motherhood and breastfeeding, as well as the opportunity to be apart of yours. I always think of the book "The Giving Tree," by Shel Silverstein when trying to illustrate a mother's selflessness. We give every ounce (pun intended) of ourselves to our babies, and as beautiful as that is, it can undoubtedly be hard at times. Learning to breastfeed was the biggest challenge for me when I had my eldest, Sophia. Not only would I have loved a Mumzees box back then, I needed one! Three breastfed babies later (still breastfeeding my third) has taught me that each baby is different and requires you to go through a learning curve unique to them, so with each new baby in our lives, my Mumzees box and cookies were right by my side!

Mumzees is on a mission to put the breastfeeding mother, at the forefront of the postpartum, newborn stage and beyond. This mission was inspired in huge part by my sister’s support during my breastfeeding journey, as well as her story and passing. You will see her heart, favorite color and even her name, all around here!

Wherever you are in your breastfeeding journey, I hope opening a Mumzees box feels like a big warm hug and puts a smile on your face. I've been there too, and I've got your back Mumzee.

Love,

Joanna