Military Mama breastfeeding success rates - Page 2

[minkajane]

Wow, where were YOU stationed? That's awesome! I was at Sheppard and Wright-Patt and we didn't have any nursing rooms or anything like that. Certainly no pumps. Maybe it was different at the med center.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

I already checked. Fort Lewis does not have even loaner pumps available for working active-duty moms because "the post is too big--there is no way they could handle the demand".

My office is pretty small and there is usually nobody pumping and very occasionally, there will be one person. However, with a deployment upcoming, there are now a bunch of pregnant women in the unit--maybe chat with the command about investing in a nursing/pumping station with a hospital-grade pump and all that...or at least a dedicated area. (But I work in the unit's office on the other side of post from those women).

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by 2lilsweetfoxes

I already checked. Fort Lewis does not have even loaner pumps available for working active-duty moms because "the post is too big--there is no way they could handle the demand".

Interesting. It appears some have done a cost/benefit analysis and saw the light, while others operate on assumptions. Wonder if we could instigate a DOD wide study &/or policy?

[Soul-O]

Originally Posted by 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.

My DH was also at Ft. Gordon a couple of years back, and there was decent lactation support available to AD moms if they wanted it. I volunteered as a lactation support counselor with the OB dept at Eisenhower for moms who wanted information and assistance; however, I found myself sadly under-utilized and wishing that there was more of a push to bring experienced moms together with willing soldiers. FYI - most of the AD moms I knew at Gordon who breastfed longer than a few weeks were officers, just as the OP mentioned.

Ft. Benning, OTOH, seems to be building a great mom-to-mom network for dependents at least... I hope there is something just as good for AD moms too!

[Soul-O]

Originally Posted by 2lilsweetfoxes

I already checked. Fort Lewis does not have even loaner pumps available for working active-duty moms because "the post is too big--there is no way they could handle the demand".

My office is pretty small and there is usually nobody pumping and very occasionally, there will be one person. However, with a deployment upcoming, there are now a bunch of pregnant women in the unit--maybe chat with the command about investing in a nursing/pumping station with a hospital-grade pump and all that...or at least a dedicated area. (But I work in the unit's office on the other side of post from those women).

Gosh, that's sad... I'm on my way to Ft. Lewis in April, and was hoping to find a BF friendly climate. I wonder if WIC could help out some of the lower enlisted moms get pumps as they probably qualify anyhow?

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by Soul-O

Gosh, that's sad... I'm on my way to Ft. Lewis in April, and was hoping to find a BF friendly climate. I wonder if WIC could help out some of the lower enlisted moms get pumps as they probably qualify anyhow?

A lot of the lower enlisted moms are married to (lower enlisted) soldiers, themselves and they make too much money to qualify for WIC with both incomes.

I barely don't qualify because I'm an E-5, despite having 4 dependents--I make just barely too much a month.

[lisa_nc]

Originally Posted by 2lilsweetfoxes

I already checked. Fort Lewis does not have even loaner pumps available for working active-duty moms because "the post is too big--there is no way they could handle the demand".

I wonder how it differs in size from Camp Lejeune? Camp Lejeune is one of the bigger, if not the biggest (population wise) bases in the Marine Corps. If the population is similar, maybe ask them why Camp Lejeune can manage and Ft. Lewis can't.

[MovingMomma]

I'm pretty Fort Lewis is much larger. I'm from Washington & at Camp Lejeune now... Plus, the Army has more females enlisted than the Marine Corps does.