Military Mama breastfeeding success rates

[2lilsweetfoxes]

I wonder what the rate of breastfeeding success--as defined by making it to one year--is with regards to military mamas. By military mama, I mean mama is active duty regardless of whether or not daddy is. I do hear some stories about a mama feeding her baby one full year at minimum--then find out, almost invariably, that mama was either a Senior ranking NCO or an officer . I think lip service is paid to support of nursing--as long as it does not interfere with the mission. So many women I know ended up switching to formula because they had to go to training or a school or the field or got deployed. I have a memo that is recommended to give to the commander and here is the first line:

1. Purpose: Provide a breastfeeding work plan to gain permission/support for the Soldier to breastfeed her baby upon return to duty.

(bolding mine) I can see how having a set plan can be good, but looking like I have to ASK permission to give my child the best food for her? That sets it up for the commander to say "No. I do not agree with this. My child was formula fed and is fine." :

[crittersmom]

I'm not sure about any numbers but I did know someone who was lucky enough to have a command who knew about the importance of BFing and gave her time and a closet to pump in at least.She ended up being transfered to a new command that was deploying when her baby was still under a year and even though she and her partner tried the baby ended up weaning.
I think if a baby is under a year the mother shouldn't be deployable.

[minkajane]

I did it! I was an E-4 when DS was born. Thankfully, I had supervisors who had kids and were cool with me pumping twice a day. I was able to take an extra 30 days' personal leave (10 weeks total home with DS). I pumped in a bathroom, but I was the only girl, there was a partition around the toilet, and it got cleaned daily, so I was ok with it. A few times, I nursed DS at my desk or in the break room, and I NIPed in uniform on a regular basis. I managed to work things out so that I didn't have to go anywhere till he had self-weaned.

The Air Force recently implemented a new instruction that states that doctors should issue recommendations for nursing mothers to be deferred from deployment for one year following birth. Now, this is not a mandatory deferment (if they're really needed, they're going) and doesn't cover stuff like training or temporary duty, but it's a start.

[songbh]

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months. It was a pretty amazing story. (It is also a vivid illustration of the problem raised by the recent New Yorker article on how pumps become society's excuse not to support mother-baby togetherness.)

I taught a women's studies course on motherhood last semester and had an older African-American student who had served in the army for 20 years, during which time she had 3 babies and nursed each of them for 3 months. She was justifiably proud of her accomplishment but also was grateful to the military for giving her 3 months' maternity leave. She felt this was far more than she would have received in any other job for which her educational background qualified her, and I believe she is correct.

Yes, I think the military should do more to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding -- just like other workplaces and societal institutions. But women have fought so long and hard for equal opportunity in our military that I can understand why many might not support a policy that would prevent them from deploying on the sames schedule as male soldiers. With no military experience myself, on this matter I'm inclined to follow the lead of women who are both soldiers and mothers.

[hippiemommaof4]

Originally Posted by songbh

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months. It was a pretty amazing story. (It is also a vivid illustration of the problem raised by the recent New Yorker article on how pumps become society's excuse not to support mother-baby togetherness.)

I taught a women's studies course on motherhood last semester and had an older African-American student who had served in the army for 20 years, during which time she had 3 babies and nursed each of them for 3 months. She was justifiably proud of her accomplishment but also was grateful to the military for giving her 3 months' maternity leave. She felt this was far more than she would have received in any other job for which her educational background qualified her, and I believe she is correct.

Yes, I think the military should do more to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding -- just like other workplaces and societal institutions. But women have fought so long and hard for equal opportunity in our military that I can understand why many might not support a policy that would prevent them from deploying on the sames schedule as male soldiers. With no military experience myself, on this matter I'm inclined to follow the lead of women who are both soldiers and mothers.

I was in the military and I agree with you...its just what it is,the military. I have to say as much as that stinks for nursing moms and their babies, the military doesnt really hold nursing to a priority and rightfully so in some cases like rapid deployment. I can only see it being an issue obviously if its something minor (like one day training that can be completed later etc)and they are just being difficult with a mom. A soldier is a soldier, mother ,father or not. You do have the option of getting out when you find out you are pregnant too which for some women is a good thing as well, I never did when I was pregnant but the option is there if the mom needs/wants it. For single moms however its better for them to stay usually. Alot of dual military couples usually decide the mom gets out. The discharge is honorable etc too. This is a tough issue that I too see both sides of because the military has rules. you take an oath and sign a contract to follow those rules no matter what. I think many of them are unfair along with the BFing but you also have to look at it from the militarys POV too soldiers are soldiers to them (not moms dads etc) you make that sacrifice when you sign up sadly but luckily there are people willing to do it...its not even close to being a normal job or a civilian job and its tough. I should also mention that I am married to a career soldier as well whom as my husband and a father we have needed many times but he's a soldier first. The good news is the military is starting to become better about families like they are giving my dh automatic 3 weeks leave free days (without them taking saved days) when our newbie is born here soon which on top of that he'll try to take a few more weeks soon after. They are trying and its a start...

[Kyyrah]

Originally Posted by hippiemommaof4

This is a tough issue that I too see both sides of because the military has rules. you take an oath and sign a contract to follow those rules no matter what. I think many of them are unfair along with the BFing but you also have to look at it from the militarys POV too soldiers are soldiers to them (not moms dads etc) you make that sacrifice when you sign up sadly but luckily there are people willing to do it...its not even close to being a normal job or a civilian job and its tough. I should also mention that I am married to a career soldier as well whom as my husband and a father we have needed many times but he's a soldier first.

[minkajane]

Originally Posted by songbh

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months. It was a pretty amazing story. (It is also a vivid illustration of the problem raised by the recent New Yorker article on how pumps become society's excuse not to support mother-baby togetherness.)

She actually went to training in Texas, but it's still cool. She shipped it (I think) once a week with dry ice. I am not seeing how it would be possible at all to get milk from Iraq to the states and it still be good. Dry ice and the like are not available in a tent city.

[hipmummy]

Originally Posted by songbh

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months. It was a pretty amazing story. (It is also a vivid illustration of the problem raised by the recent New Yorker article on how pumps become society's excuse not to support mother-baby togetherness.)

I taught a women's studies course on motherhood last semester and had an older African-American student who had served in the army for 20 years, during which time she had 3 babies and nursed each of them for 3 months. She was justifiably proud of her accomplishment but also was grateful to the military for giving her 3 months' maternity leave. She felt this was far more than she would have received in any other job for which her educational background qualified her, and I believe she is correct.

Yes, I think the military should do more to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding -- just like other workplaces and societal institutions. But women have fought so long and hard for equal opportunity in our military that I can understand why many might not support a policy that would prevent them from deploying on the sames schedule as male soldiers. With no military experience myself, on this matter I'm inclined to follow the lead of women who are both soldiers and mothers.

:Ps. The New Yorker Article.Was very Interesting..

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by minkajane

She actually went to training in Texas, but it's still cool. She shipped it (I think) once a week with dry ice. I am not seeing how it would be possible at all to get milk from Iraq to the states and it still be good. Dry ice and the like are not available in a tent city.

And, it is likely that the milk will be sitting on a pallet outside somewhere for several days before it gets onto a plane. The other reason I'd be sad to deploy before my baby is 1 is because formula is expensive. Even if she can use the "cheap stuff", it would still run us a couple hundred a month.

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by songbh

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months.

You must be thinking of this article. The mother was actually deployed to Afghanistan.

She was a captain serving in the Air Force as a physician. She had access to electricity and a freezer, and was able to ship the milk home packed in dry ice via DHL. Clearly, pertinent to the OP's concerns, this momma was in quite a privileged position as far as deployed military mothers. There is even a quote by her husband in the article, "We're really blessed that we can afford to make these shipments so often. But it can get quite pricey, and because of that, it's cost-prohibitive for a lot of military families."

Yes, military mommas face huge challenges in trying to breastfeed, but many are able to breastfeed in spite of the challenges, often going to great lengths to do so.

I, too, would be interested to know actual rates.

[minkajane]

I must have been thinking of another pumping mom when I said Texas. I didn't hear about the one in Afghanistan. That's awesome that she's able to do that while deployed!

[lisa_nc]

I know our base has a specific program JUST for active duty moms that want to pump/nurse. They give free hospital grade breastpumps and offer support. Definitely a step in the right direction.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by lisa_nc

I know our base has a specific program JUST for active duty moms that want to pump/nurse. They give free hospital grade breastpumps and offer support. Definitely a step in the right direction.

Yeah, our old base did that as well, and I think one we're at now may have a program like that.

[lisa_nc]

Was it CLJ?

[psychethemuse]

My last base (Ft. Gordon) had a lactating mothers room in the health and wellness center complete with hospital grade breastpump. I believe that the HWC would work with the command to ensure that women were able to pump if they wanted to. There were also breastfeeding classes.

We also had a nursing mothers room in the building I worked at. You could sign up for it in advance, and it was very private. I think (not certain) that some mamas were even able to nurse their babes in the room. If I had stayed in, I certainly would have taken advantage of that.

[kriket]

subbing
I live next to probably the largest AFB in the US. I will see who I can write a letter to to ask

Do any of you know where I should start? I'm not military, but I'm interested because the base dominates this town and it's economy!

[ashleyhaugh]

i worked in the infant room at the CDC when were in germany (army base) for 3 years. very few moms pumped at all, regardless if they were active duty or not. the longest anyone pumped while i was there was about 10 months, and she was an active duty mom. she supplemented occasionally with formula, but not often. a lot of people started out pumping, and quit after a few weeks or months (the army maternity leave is 6 weeks, so thats how old the babes of active duty moms were)

i did FCC for a while, and had to help a single mom wean her 5 month old to formula since she was getting ready to send the baby back to the states to be with grandma while she deployed. i also had the babe for 3 weeks while mom was in the field one time.

christina, i had my son while we were at ft gordon, and during the OB tour at the hospital (delivery was at a civillian hospital) they mentioned that some office on base had hospital grade pumps for active duty moms to borrow, and the hospital would give them a set of tubes and stuff to have for the pump

[songbh]

Originally Posted by songbh

About deployed BFing mamas -- there was a big news story about a year ago about a mother who went to Iraq and kept pumping and shipping her milk home for months.

Originally Posted by MovingMomma

You must be thinking of this article. The mother was actually deployed to Afghanistan.

Yes, that's the story I was thinking of -- sorry for getting the facts wrong, and thanks for the correction!

[grniys]

Originally Posted by lisa_nc

Was it CLJ?

Yes, unfortunately. I'm so glad to be gone from there!

[fioner]

I was in the Air Force for 10 years, but I got out before I got pregnant. I just wanted to say though, that all the places I worked while in the AF had nursing mothers rooms, and the larger buildings had hospital-grade pumps if I remember correctly. In my experience, if a woman needed to pump, she went and pumped, no questions asked. I'm not saying the situation was always 100% ideal, but it also never seemed prohibitive to pumping. Of course there are lots different jobs in the military, and I happened to work an office job, which makes things easier. However, I think there are inherent inconveniences in pumping and that is what keeps a lot of military women from breastfeeding longer, no matter how supportive their workplaces are.