BreastFriend, the Tauranga-founded brand behind The Breasties wearable breast pump, has partnered with The Lab — NZ's flagship hybrid training facility — to gift local new mums a free MUM CLUB session.
The initiative is founder-led: BreastFriend's Marie-Claire Houtsmuller built the brand after struggling to find adequate pumps or support as a first-time, exclusively pumping mother. She was also in need of a village, and this is what this is. MUM CLUB is a baby-friendly training session designed to give new parents a rare hour to move, connect, and recharge — babies and prams welcome, no cost to attend.
Quote from Marie-Claire Houtsmuller, Founder, BreastFriend NZ:
"When I was exclusively pumping, the thing I needed most wasn't just a better pump, it was community and other māmā with some movement. An hour to move, breathe, and connect with other mums going through the same thing. That's what we wanted to give back with this session."
About BreastFriend: BreastFriend is the sole New Zealand and Australian importer of The Breasties, a wearable, hands-free double breast pump available in 12 flange sizes. Founded by Tauranga mum Marie-Claire Houtsmuller in July 2025, BreastFriend offers genuinely empathetic, 7-day customer support and donates a set of Breasties to a NICU each month.
About The Lab: The Lab is NZ's flagship hybrid training facility, based in Tauranga. Its MUM CLUB session is a dedicated, baby-friendly training space designed for parents at all stages and fitness levels — a parent catch-up, with a little more sweat involved. (Note: no childminding is provided; little ones remain in their parent's care.)