This blog post comes from Maria Berruezo, co-founder and COO of LactApp Women's health, a tool to provide evidence based and customized advice to breastfeeding women through Artificial Intelligence. LactApp data has already contributed to the success of several scientific studies. Hear more about how Maria's using technology to change the world at theupcoming Women Rock-IT broadcaston April 22.

Eight years ago, an unexpected and life-changing experience influenced my life and the lives of many people around me.

When my second daughter was born, I already belonged to a breastfeeding association and helped to coordinate a national breastfeeding congress. On my way to a breastfeeding association meeting with my baby in the trolley, we were crossing the last pedestrian crossing when a distracted driver accelerated through a red traffic light, hitting us on the crosswalk.

Thankfully, my little girl wasn't hurt. She only needed one night in the hospital for observation. But while my baby girl recovered quickly, she had to be without me for two months. I couldn't nurture or nourish her little growing body because I was on a long and slow journey toward recovery. I went to the ICU for ten days, and then stayed in the hospital for two months until I was able to walk again. The following months I went to rehab every day.

The triangle of success

Breastfeeding was important to me, so I found everything I needed to get it back: Access to trusted information, professional support, and women network.

And the seed of my life project was planted: LactApp.

I realized that most breastfeeding difficulties could be solved with the same formula of success I experienced during my recovery:

• Reliable, updated, and trusted information,
• Specialized health professional support,
• And a supporting network that provided empirical knowledge and known references.

There was one person who was very important throughout my recovery process, and that was friend and future LactApp co-founder, Alba Padr