Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Nelson.
Hi Crystal, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my journey as a teen mom with no support when it came to breast pumping. Over the years, I had three children of my own and later became a surrogate, delivering five additional babies for other families. Throughout all of those experiences, I realized how many gaps existed in support, education, and products for pumping moms. While breastfeeding education was common, many mothers returning to work or exclusively pumping were left to figure things out on their own. There was very little guidance on, flange sizing, traveling with breastmilk, or simply how to make pumping more comfortable.
In 2017, after delivering twins as a surrogate, I began donating my breastmilk to families in need. When I offered to ship the milk, I quickly discovered the process was expensive, stressful, and lacked practical support for families trying to navigate it. As I shared what I learned with other milk donors, I started helping them ship their milk by creating my own shipping kits and passing along discounted shipping options. The more families I helped, the more I realized how many parents needed a safe, affordable, and reliable way to transport breastmilk while traveling, returning to work, relocating, or navigating surrogacy journeys.
As I connected with moms through social media groups, I kept seeing the same pumping challenges come up over and over again, with very few real solutions available. In 2018, I developed and patented a flange sizing process and created the Nipple Queen Ruler to help moms determine a more comfortable and effective fit while pumping. From there, I went on to create additional products like Pumping Pretty Inserts and the Pump Pod after seeing firsthand how many women struggled with pain, discomfort, elastic nipples, flat or inverted nipples, and issues caused by existing products on the market.
Today, I own and operate Save The Milk, where my focus is helping moms feel supported, educated, and less alone during their pumping journey. Whether it’s through shipping breastmilk home from a business trip, helping someone troubleshoot pain while pumping, or creating products designed around real experiences, my goal has always stayed the same: find the problem and create a solution that truly helps mothers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was building a business in an area where many lactation professionals did not yet fully understand the unique struggles of pumping mothers. When I first started, there were very few resources, products, or conversations focused specifically on breast pumping, flange sizing, or breastmilk sharing. A lot of what I created came from personal experience, trial and error, and listening directly to moms who were struggling.
Having no prior experience running a business, managing manufacturing, or handling inventory came with a steep learning curve, and I made many mistakes along the way. There were many moments where I questioned whether I could keep going, especially while balancing being a wife, mother, and surrogate during the pandemic.
But every challenge reinforced why this work matters. Hearing from moms who finally felt comfortable pumping, receiving gratitude from families who otherwise could not afford to ship milk home to their babies, or simply helping someone feel less alone kept pushing me forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Save The Milk. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Save The Milk was built by moms — and that’s not just a tagline, it’s my origin story. I created this company because of the conversations happening in Facebook groups, where mothers were openly and honestly sharing the same struggles that I was having: painful pumping sessions, confusion around flange sizing, anxiety about milk storage, and the logistical nightmare of transporting breastmilk. What struck me most was that so many moms simply wanted someone to listen and truly understand what they were going through while breast pumping.
That’s exactly what Save The Milk set out to be. Every product and service I developed came directly from firsthand experiences, real trial and error, and years of listening to pumping moms. Nothing was designed in a boardroom — more like my 2 a.m bedroom pumping session. From the breastmilk shipping kits to the flange sizing tools, pumping products and educational blogs, every solution was built with real-life challenges at its core.
What sets us apart is that personal connection. I’m not an outsider looking in — I am the moms I serve. And that level of understanding, I believe, is something you simply can’t replicate. That’s what I’m most proud of, and it’s what I want every reader to know about Save The Milk.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that the path is never going to look the way you planned — and that’s okay.
When I started Save The Milk, I had this idea in my head of how it would all unfold. What I didn’t expect was how many pivots, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt would come with it. There were months where I questioned everything — months where progress felt stagnant and I wondered if I was making the right choices.
But I’ve learned that this is entrepreneurship, especially when you’re building something no one has done before. I don’t have a cookie-cutter business. Every unexpected detour taught me something, and some of the best things that exist in Save The Milk today came directly from moments that felt like failures at the time.
And when I find myself too deep in my own head, the thing that brings me back is remembering why this exists at all — the families who need these services. Save The Milk has survived and grown entirely through word of mouth and honest referrals, and that humbles me every single time I think about it. It’s a blessing to know that so many families have found value in what we’ve built together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Savethemilk.com
