The answers to both questions go hand-in-hand. At this time there is no overarching DoD policy that provides institutional guidance regarding breastfeeding; rather, it is left to each service to determine its own policy and procedures. The Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy each have distinct policies that outline the benefits of breastfeeding to baby, mom and the military; along with guidelines for a place to pump and time to pump (see Military Policies for a list of all the current policies by branch of service). However, the Army does not have a policy as such, only a brief mention that supervisors should try to accommodate soldiers in regards to breastfeeding, if possible. Furthermore, even between and within the policies of the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy there are a number of differences and loopholes. For instance, while the Air Force policy clearly gives 6 months deferment (up to 12 months with commander approval) and outlines break times (15-30 minutes, 3-4 times a day) and a place to pump (clean, locked room with running water and electrical outlets), the Navy and Marine Corps policies leave the time and place for pumping up to the supervisor. The Coast Guard offers a sabbatical program for parents to use if they wish after the birth or adoption of a child. For Reserve and National Guard breastfeeding mothers, there is nothing at all in the way of a policy. As you can see, it really is a mishmash of varying policies that are confusing to both the servicemember AND her supervisor. And too often, where there is confusion or any type of loophole (i.e. no policy) it becomes the norm to not offer any support at all. Another point to consider: as more and more military bases combine, there will be issues that arise when personnel from two different services are working alongside each other and one gets time and a place to pump and the other one doesn’t.

With nearly 43% of women in military who are mothers, and 22% of the children born to them who are newborn to 2 years old, there is a huge population of women in the military that are choosing to breastfeed. In fact breastfeeding rates are up in the military as more health care providers are recommending it due to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) statement that children be breastfed exclusively for 6 months, and up to 12 months or as long as mutually desired. Furthermore the DoD is mandated to follow the Healthy People guidelines, of which a core component is breastfeeding. So given these facts along with what we know about the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers (take a look at the AHRQ statement, the AAP statement, the U.S Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, and the Bartick study), not to mention the cost savings for the DoD; it seems illogical that the DoD hasn’t come up with a policy yet. Breastfeeding is not only a health and safety issue, but an economic issue for the military. Supporting breastfeeding by creating a military-wide policy will lead to increased mission-readiness, morale and retention; as well as less absenteeism and decreased health care costs (due to less illnesses among breastfed babies and mothers). By creating a military-wide policy that is consistent across ALL the branches of the military regarding breastfeeding; active duty, reserve and guard mothers will feel supported in their efforts. It’s a win-win situation for the military and for mothers and babies.

Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Lacy, 32, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Staff Sgt. Alicia Lance, 37, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/Susanne M. Schafer)

What Senator Gillibrand is proposing, and has before the Senate Armed Forces Committee, is the creation of a military-wide policy that encourages and promotes the ability of active duty servicewomen who choose to breastfeed for up to one year after delivery. This policy would include:

• Allowing optional deferments for both long-term (one month+) training or field exercises and temporary duties (TDY) (that take the mother away from her child) and deployments for up to twelve months following delivery without negatively impacting the servicewoman’s career promotion or progression.
• If there must be training, then the Command should implement a program for transporting breastmilk back to the mother’s home base or provide reimbursement for shipping expenses.
• Requiring that nursing mothers are provided a clean, secluded space (not a toilet space) with ready access to a water source for the purpose of pumping breastmilk and refrigeration for safe storage of breastmilk. When possible, the space should have a locking door to ensure privacy and security and a hospital-grade pump.
• Ensuring nursing mothers are provided reasonable duty breaks (3-4 breaks of 20-30 minutes minimum (depending on her work hours 3 breaks for 8 hour shifts, 4 breaks for 12 hour shifts).

Additionally:

• Services may consider implementing an additional month to her enlistment/officer contract for each month of deferred deployment.
• There should be mandatory breastfeeding education for Commands and a program in place for pregnant servicewomen that offers breastfeeding education.
• There should be a provision to ensure that servicewomen in uniform are not punished for public breastfeeding.

This policy, if approved by the Senate Armed Forces Committee and included in the National Defense Authorization Act 2013, would also help to bring the U.S. military in line with federal law (specifically the Workplace Pumping Law that is part of the Affordable Care Act signed into law in 2010). The policy is in DRAFT form currently and has gone to the committee for debate and that is where YOU come in. At this time the Committee members are already voicing concerns about the need for such a policy, as well as integration and readiness issues. Your input and letters of support on WHY this policy is needed are requested! It is hoped that this policy can be included in this year’s Defense Authorization Act, so time is of the essence. You can send your email to Kirsten Gnipp (Senator Gillibrand’s Intern) kirsten_gnipp@gillibrand.senate.gov. You may also want to visit Senator Gillibrand’s website to see why this legislation is important to her (hint: she breastfed her children).

Do you want to see a military-wide breastfeeding policy? Do you think it is necessary? Do you feel that it will affect military readiness and the integration of women? What would you like to see included in a military-wide policy? Leave your comments below!

The Carrying On Project is the brainstorm of Kit and Rachel.  Kit is an military veteran and spouse and Rachel is a graphic designer who found that wearing their babies made active duty service and deployments so much easier to handle.  Their mission is to make the practice of babywearing a reality for military personnel and their families.  They are doing that by providing carriers to active duty moms and the families of military personnel so that they can make secure attachments with their children, something that deployments, long working hours and injuries often interrupt. Kit and Rachel want to assist both the service members and the families left behind in “Carrying On” while both home and away, in the hopes of making something that is difficult for the whole family a little bit easier.  As a former active duty service member and current military spouse, who used a sling to wear my baby both while in the service and during my husband’s many deployments, I can attest to the wonderful benefits that babywearing provides!  As an IBCLC, I can say with confidence that babywearing greatly benefits and assists with breastfeeding, maintaining a milk supply and creating secure attachments as well.

With that said, I am excited to share the interview I did with Kit where she shares more about the Carrying On Project, the benefits of babywearing for AD moms, her babywearing journey, and extends her support to the BFinCB community!

BFinCB:  Why did you start The Carrying On Project?
Kit:  We started The Carrying On Project to help get quality carriers in the hands of military families that need them. Having both been in the military and now married to it, I understand that every dime makes a difference, but every tool to make getting through it easier for the families is vital. We wanted to help Active Duty parents facilitate strong bonds with their children, and to help and family members left behind during training or deployments get through it a little easier.  The name of the organization, “The Carrying On Project” has two distinct meanings. Babywearing is a way of “carrying” our children and going on with life. “Carry On” is also a military order, one that means “keep doing what you’re doing,”  It’s used service-wide, across all branches, through out all the ranks and jobs.

BFinCB:  How you are helping military moms? 
Kit:  We are helping military moms by giving them things they need and may not have had access to or even known about, and teaching them how to use them. Having your hands free to cook dinner, load the washer, fold clothes, pack a diaper bag, walk a dog.. do whatever needs doing, but still be able to snuggle with your child, is an invaluable tool.

BFinCB:  What are the benefits of babywearing for AD military moms?
Kit:  The benefits of babywearing for anyone, ESPECIALLY AD moms, are vast. When you work full time, sometimes for days a time, and have to be gone for training, deployments, over nights, the list goes on.. the hours you get to spend snuggling and bonding with your baby are limited. Add in all of the other things that often need your attention, and sometimes you’re left with no time at all! Babywearing helps create strong, healthy bonds between mother and child, and releases some of the same hormones as nursing, such as oxytocin, also called “the feel good hormone”. It helps keep mom calm, and when baby is especially young helps with temperature and heart beat regulation. If an AD mom is able to breastfeed, having baby close also helps her milk supply, both because of the hormones created from the “constant snuggle” and also because it keeps baby close enough to smell it, want it, and access it easily. Being able to wear baby while you nurse and get other things done will help keep up your milk supply, making nursing less of a challenge. One of the big things that we remind active duty parents about with babywearing is that if you wear your baby, even if you have to go away for awhile, your baby remembers that. They remember the snuggle, the comfort, your smell, and the warmth. When you come home, it will help create a sense of safe space, comfort, and security. We also highly encourage babywearing as a way for combat veterans to bond with their children, because when baby is in a carrier there is no risk of dropping them, which is a common fear with some of the side effects PTSD.

BFinCB:  How did you get started with babywearing?
Kit: A deployment is what really got me in to babywearing. I was interested beforehand, but when my husband left less than two weeks after our first daughter was born, I needed something to keep her close and still be able to get things done. I used babywearing to get through pretty much everything. Laundry, cooking, eating, traveling through the airport, grocery shopping, going for walks, and of course, making friends. The best thing that babywearing ever did for me was bring me to a new group of friends, which has grown and grown with every new duty station, as there are babywearers everywhere! The moms I met in my first babywearing group, several of whom were also military spouses, were my lifeline. I went to my first babywearing meeting when my daughter was six weeks old, and they helped guide me through sleeping habits, natural remedies for nursing issues, and through the maze that is food allergies. They helped me find carriers that worked for us by lending out their own at meetings and even to take home, and helped me get her on my back. We spent a lot of time traveling when my husband was gone, as we lived on the opposite side of the country from our families. Thanks to babywearing I was able to check my luggage, wear my daughter on my front, a diaper bag on my back, and navigate the airport hands free all while keeping her safe and close.  We have moved twice with my oldest daughter, who is just under 3, and now have an almost 10 month old. My husband has been gone since right after Christmas, and if I thought babywearing saved my sanity last time, this time it has been even moreso.

BFinCB:  What future plans does The Carrying On Project have?

Kit:  With the help of several baby carrier companies as sponsors, The Carrying On Project has been able to donate many carriers to the families who are nominated, including some that stationed overseas.  We also partner with Operation Homefront for Star Spangled Babies, which is a baby shower thrown for expecting active duty, as well wounded warrior and active duty spouses.  Our next major event is in VA Beach, where we will be helping 200 families learn how to use donated carriers and talk to them about the benefits of babywearing, especially for military moms that work long hours, and for while a spouse is at training or deployed.

BFinCB:  Thank you so much Kit for your support of our AD military moms and families!!

*****For every donation of $30, BFinCB will DONATE a copy of the book, Breastfeeding in Combat Boots: A Survival Guide to Breastfeding in the Military, to given away to a deserving AD, Reserve or Guard mother or mother-to-be along with a sling from The Carrying On Project*****

Click on the DONATE button to the right —> and put “Carrying On Project” in the comments.

BFinCB and The Carrying On Project are giving away one prize pack featuring:

1 copy of the book, “Breastfeeding in Combat Boots: A Survival Guide to Breastfeding in the Military” – Retail Value $30.00 USD

1 sling of your choice – Retail value $45.00 USD

Total value: $75.00 USD

Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is for Active Duty and Reserve breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be from May 25, 2013 through May 31, 2013.  A big thanks to Kit and Rachel and The Carrying Project for their support of BFinCB and all breastfeeding women serving in the military; please be sure to visit their Facebook page, follow The Carrying On Project on Twitter and thank them for their support of BFinCB and this giveaway opportunity.

BFinCB and The Carrying On Project will ship worldwide.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The first occurred at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam when an active duty Air Force mom was asked to leave the Military Processing Facility (where she was out-processing) for breastfeeding her daughter while waiting in the waiting room.  According to the former E-5, she was told that the MPF was not an appropriate place to feed her child and that she had broken the law (public indecency/indecent exposure). She had to return to the MPF again a few days later, and once again was told by a civilian employee that she could not breastfeed in the waiting room and was told to cover up or go a private room. This time the SSgt contacted the base Legal office who told her that although breastfeeding was legal, ANY exposed skin was considered indecent exposure, and that she (and her active duty husband) would face disciplinary action as a result if she continued to breastfeed openly at the MPF.   She was further told that any disciplinary procedures would hold-up her discharge from the military (she was Honorably discharged later that week).

The latest incidents occurred at the Schofield Barracks commissary this past week when two Army spouses, in separate incidents, were both asked to cover-up or move to a private room while breastfeeding their infants at the commissary. On Feb 25th Army spouse Tamara Algots was at the Schofield Barracks, Hawaii commissary breastfeeding her baby in her Ergo baby carrier when she was told by a commissary employee to either stop or leave. She had her toddler with her and left a full cart of groceries in the aisle.  A day later, Brianna Zumbrennan was also told by a commissary employee to leave or cover up while breastfeeding her baby (read more at this link on SpouseBUZZ).  Throughout both incidents the mothers have explained to officials in charge that they have a right to feed their children in public as stated by both Federal and State of Hawaii law, both of which protect mothers’ rights to breastfeed in public and do not require them to use any covers.

• Federal law – Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.
• Hawaii law - It is a discriminatory practice to deny, or attempt to deny, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodations to a woman because she is breastfeeding a child.

The Schofield Barracks commissary enforces the dress code used by the rest of the post, and provides pictures on a sign at the entryway into the building. The commissary also has a room set aside for nursing mothers. It should be noted that the dress code does not address public breast feeding or specifically order breastfeeding mothers to use the room or a cover. Commissary and AAFES officials have stated that they do not make such policies, only follow the local installation rules.

Unfortunately, as is the case within the military, state law does not apply to military installations. And while it would seem that federal law clearly states it applies to any federal property, military installations may be exempt from following it if the garrison commander/commanding officer deems it necessary.  Case in point, Garrison commanders have legal leeway to do as they see fit under U.S. Code Title 10.  As of the writing of this post, Army officials at Schofield Barracks are reviewing installation breastfeeding rules and are planning to make a new policy to “maintain good order and discipline on the installation,” with the aim of  “maintaining a reasonable standard that is in keeping with Army values and community expectations.”   According to statements made in a private meeting between the mothers involved and the Garrison Commander,

“It is clear that the Garrison needs to have a policy concerning publicly nursing mothers.  Our intent is  not to unduly restrict mothers, but to inform our community, which is a function of command required by the Installation Commander’s responsibilities under Title 10 to maintain good order and discipline on the installation. We want our employees and community to understand the right of nursing mothers to do so in public, and for everyone to know our expectations for the manner in which nursing occurs in public.”

U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii officials said in a series of statements posted to their Facebook page that breastfeeding in a private way is also a priority.

“We support the nursing of children in public with discretion,” their statements said. “Again, our concern is not with allowing a mother the right to breast-feed in public, it is with the questions raised about what is considered exposure and how it is perceived by others.”

The problem with this is two-fold:  What is considered discreet and why are breastfeeding mothers singled out and discriminated against?  To leave the judgement of what is considered discreet in one person’s hands is a very dangerous precedent to set.  What one person deems discreet another does not.  And who defines what is considered discreet?  The mother, the guy next door, the Sargent Major?  And what happens when the next change-of-command occurs?  Will the policy change again? The current Garrison commander may feel strongly that only being fully covered with no skin showing is discreet while the next Garrison commander in line (whose wife breastfed?) does not.   Note that the Garrison commander also stated clearly that it was a priority that breastfeeding be done a private way.  That is singling out only the breastfeeding mothers with this policy, which is discrimination plain and simple. Either ALL mothers feeding babies (by breast or bottle) must be covered or go to a separate room, or no mothers need too.  Breastfeeding mothers are FEEDING their babies, the babies are eating, period.  They need to be fed. That’s all.  There is nothing sexual about feeding a baby! Finally, the both the Air Force and Army commands in Hawaii are in a wonderful position to make a positive impact for nursing mothers worldwide, IF and only if, they choose to create a policy that does NOT require breastfeeding mothers to cover-up or go to a room to feed their babies.  In other words the policy simply needs to state that all Air Force and Army commands will abide by the Federal law. Period. Nothing needs to be said about nursing covers or special rooms, if moms want to use them, fine, but they should not be made mandatory.  Unless of course all mothers feeding infants and small children will be required to go to a special room or use a cover….

This isn’t the first time that this issue has come up on a military base.  In 2007 a worker at the AAFES mall at Ft. Bragg was told she could not breastfeed her son on her work break because AAFES policy bans it.  In April of 2011 a civilian spouse of an Army soldier was asked to leave a military housing office at Ft. Bragg when she was breastfeeding her daughter, and more recently a mother was asked to refrain from breastfeeding her child in the waiting room of a military hospital (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth) of all places.  And who can forget last summer, when two Air Force women had their photos taken while breastfeeding in uniform, for a promotional campaign in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, that sparked nationwide headlines.

The main reasoning behind all of these incidents seems to be the fact that breastfeeding a child is somehow being disrespectful to the military.  Which is ironic when you consider that cheerleaders in skimpy outfits, that show way more breast than a mother breastfeeding her child, are encouraged at military installations, at USO shows overseas, and onboard ship. What a double standard!  So it’s ok to show breasts for ‘morale’ to the troops (15% of which are women by the way…seeing the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders never did much for my morale when I was deployed) but NOT ok for a mom to breastfeed her baby on base for fear of violating good order and discipline?  And how exactly *is* a breastfeeding mother violating good order and discipline?  Is it because the poor, young, fresh-out-of-boot-camp male airmen, sailors and soldiers cannot control themselves if they catch sight of a little ‘side-boob’?  If that is the case maybe some more general military training is in order, NOT a one-size-fits-all policy asking one segment of the population to cover-up while feeding their baby.

Furthermore, anyone who has shopped at the commissary recently has seen way more breast and butt hanging out by other patrons than is ever seen with a woman breastfeeding a baby, especially in a carrier like the one worn by Tracy (in the photo to the right). Any policy that is drafted needs to require ALL patrons to dress modestly, so that means no ‘booty’ shorts, sagging pants or bikini’s in the commissary.  And it needs to be enforced.  Don’t stop the breastfeeding mom showing nothing but a strip of chest over her baby’s head while the patron wearing booty shorts gets a pass.  Maybe a sign needs to be posted at the commissary that says this: “If breastfeeding a baby offends your sensibilities, TURN YOUR HEAD!!”

If you are ever harassed for breastfeeding in public, on or off base, please contact the Best for Babes NIP hotline (1-855-NIP-FREE) and make a complaint.  Best for Babes has a team of volunteers standing by to offer assistance in the form of letter-writing, media exposure, etc., or just a listening ear if all you want to do is vent.  But more importantly the calls are being tallied so that legislative change can be made.  And yes, even within the military, change CAN happen…so keep the calls coming in!

Have you ever been harassed for breastfeeding your baby on base or post?  Or is your command supportive of breastfeeding?  Share your story in the comments below.

1) If you are pregnant, plan on breastfeeding your baby.  I often hear the words “I’m going to try and breastfeed”. When I hear this I think of the words that Yoda said, “Do or do not, there is no try.”  However, with that being said many moms will need support to meet their breastfeeding goals. The prenatal period is the perfect time to assemble your breastfeeding support team:

• I recommend moms attend at least one La Leche League meeting while pregnant. La Leche League is an international mother to mother support network with Groups on bases worldwide. You can find a meeting close to you by clicking on this link: http://www.llli.org/webindex.html
• Talk to women you know who have breastfed or are currently breastfeeding.
• Read some books on breastfeeding. I would be remiss not to mention my book written especially for military mothers, “Breastfeeding in Combat Boots: A Survival Guide to Successful Breastfeeding While Serving in the Military“. There are many more excellent books on breastfeeding that can be found on my Books page.
• The internet is full of breastfeeding information. Some sites have evidence-based information and others do not. You can check out a whole list of useful breastfeeding web pages on my Websites page.  If you find others that you like, post them in the comments section.
• Enroll in prenatal breastfeeding classes, especially one that has an entire class devoted to breastfeeding and working. You can find breastfeeding classes through your military hospital or clinic, New Parent Support Program/Team, or local breastfeeding coalition.
• Finally, if you have a history of any medical conditions (diabetes, PCOS, infertility, prior breast or chest surgeries, etc.) a prenatal breastfeeding consultation with an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is recommended. Most military hospitals have IBCLC’s on staff or you can check out ILCA’s Find-a-Lactation-Consultant for one near you that does home visits.

2)  Say something supportive to a woman you see pumping at work or breastfeeding at the CDC. This can be hard to do, but can really make you and the recipient feel good.  You can say “I’m really happy to see you nursing here,” or “Thanks for nursing” or even “I think you’re a great mom for pumping and providing your milk to your baby.”  Any other suggestions?  Write them in the comments section.

3)  Thank someone who is/was an important source of support to you during breastfeeding. This could be a friend, a co-worker, your mom, your husband or partner, a lactation consultant, your nurse or doctor.

4)  Help a woman who is having breastfeeding difficulty. You can do this by helping her solve a breastfeeding problem yourself, referring her to a source of expert help (IBCLC or LLL Leader), or just by listening to her concerns.  Links to various types of breastfeeding help can be found in the Resources section of this website.

5)   Become a Peer Supporter at your base or post.   Check out the Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Peer Support Program created by the Army (scroll down the page for info) or LLLI.  If you are breastfeeding or have breastfed for a minimum of 6 months and want to help other breastfeeding moms consider providing peer support. If you are not up that commitment, consider starting an Active Duty Breastfeeding Support Group at your base or post.

6)  Talk to at least one pregnant woman, or a woman who has not had children yet, at your workplace about the benefits of breastfeeding. Think about co-workers, friends and family members with whom you can share your experience. For mothers in the military this is especially important since many will not ever *see* another AD military mom breastfeeding. You’d be surprised how many military moms want to breastfeed, but don’t think it is possible while serving.  You can change that perception so that they all can become supportive of your efforts to provide breastmilk for your child.

7)  Learn what the policies are in your branch of the military regarding breastfeeding, pumping at work, uniform issues and more.  Take care of this one out right now by clicking here!

8) Consider setting up a lactation room at your command. It isn’t as difficult as you might think and you don’t need to be a high ranking officer either.  Take a look at this page for ideas to make a lactation room a reality at your command.  When the room is set-up print out the new International Symbol for Breastfeeding -available here - and post it (along with a bulletin board full of breastfeeding information).

9)  If you have breastfed, take some of the money you saved by not buying formula and buy or do something for yourself to celebrate your success!  I’m thinking a nice pedicure or a trip to Starbucks is in order.  Any other ideas?  Post in the comments section.

10)  Make a donation of any size to an organization that promotes breastfeeding.  Some suggestions are Best for Babes, donor milk banks, La Leche League, or your local or state breastfeeding coalition.  I’ll take this moment to ask that you consider also making a donation to Breastfeeding in Combat Boots (see the Donate button in the sidebar) so that I can continue to help military mothers find the information and support that they need.

Have another resolution I missed?  Post it in the comments section.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year 2013!

Robyn Roche-Paull, IBCLC

Author & Founder ~ Breastfeeding in Combat Boots

AMS3 (AW) Robyn Roche-Paull

I joined the U.S. Navy right out of high school, following in a long line of family members who have served in the military.  My grandfather served in the Army in WW1, my uncle served in the Air Force during Vietnam and my older brother served 20 years in the Navy.  In fact it was my brother in whose footsteps I followed the most closely….he was an aircraft mechanic and that’s what I wanted to do too (I grew up helping my dad and brother restore old cars and spent weekends at a warbird museum restoring old planes). The recruiter (and my Dad) kept telling me I should become a corpsman (because that’s what women do in the military, right?), but being the independent and tomboyish girl that I was, I said no and firmly reminded everyone that I wanted to be a mechanic.  The recruiter reluctantly agreed (I was another warm body, what did it matter to him what I did in the fleet?) and off I went to boot camp and ‘A’ school.  I did well in ‘A’ school, graduating at the top of my all-male class and earning my choice of duty stations, so I chose sibling duty and was sent to the same squadron as my brother at NAWS China Lake working on F/A-18′s and A-6′s.  This was before women were allowed on combat ships and squadrons, but soon enough those laws would change and my time spent here learning the ropes would be put to good use once I was in the ‘real’ fleet.  I learned a lot about how to fix aircraft, but even more about how to hold my own in a male-dominated field as the lone woman mechanic.  I also met my future husband and we got married…

Final Checker: VA-75
(on the left giving thumbs up)

In 1994 the Combat Exclusion law was repealed and I was sent to VA-75, a seagoing squadron flying A-6 Intruders attached to the USS Eisenhower.  I was the second female to arrive at the squadron and during work-ups I was one of about 100 women total on the entire carrier.  By the time we left for the 94-95 Med cruise, there were maybe 500 women total on the ship.  As a mechanic I had to qualify to become a ‘Final Checker’ or ‘Shooter’, meaning I went up to the catapults and was the last person to check over the bird for any mechanical problems before giving the thumbs up that would sent it off the pointy end of the ship. This was a huge accomplishment for me, but did not come easily as the guys in my shop and my supervisor kept throwing ‘roadblocks’ in my way (that they did not make the other men in the shop do).  Eventually I was able to complete all the ‘qualifications’ (real and bogus) and went to work on the flight deck, proving my skill at my job.  This was a good lesson in perserverance and one that would prove useful when I hit troubles later down the road with breastfeeding.

AMS3(AW) Robyn Roche-Paull and son

At my next duty station I was on shore duty and decided to start a family.  After an uneventful pregnancy and a rocky start to breastfeeding (mastitis, thrush, sore nipples) I returned to duty at 6 weeks and then the sh*t really hit the fan.  Where before the men in my shop had treated me like one of the guys, now I was a pariah. I needed time to pump and was denied it on a regular basis (the flight schedule and smoking breaks took precedence), and there was no place to pump besides the filthy restroom.  I worked with hazardous materials like hydraulic fluid, freon, oils and solvents on a daily basis and was pretty much laughed at for requesting a job modification because I was concerned about the chemicals entering my milk.  This was in 1996 and there were no breastfeeding policies in place at all.  The OPNAV 6000.1A did not exist yet… The one female senior chief (E-8) told me that I was setting all women back a decade by my actions and to just feed my baby formula.  My evals dropped, but fortunately my milk supply did not.  I kept pumping when I could and my little boy did not receive a single drop of formula.  All the time that I was breastfeeding and pumping I attended La Leche League meetings and sought out help for the problems I was facing at work.  My Leaders were supportive but didn’t have answers for me regarding HAZMAT, deployments and PT.  I wished there was a book written for active duty women who wanted to breastfeed.  Little did I know that I would be the one to write it 13 years later!

Due to the lack of support I received for my choice to breastfeed my son (and any future children I might have) I decided not to reenlist and so I was honorably discharged in 1997.  I became a La Leche Leader and then returned to school to earn my Bachelors degree in Maternal Child Health. During the course of completing my degree I was required to do a project that would serve a community.  I decided to write a pamphlet for active duty women on breastfeeding.  This would end up being the core piece and genesis of my eventual book.  I earned my degree in 2006 and sat the IBLCE boards the same year.  My pamphlet on breastfeeding was being shared by IBCLC’s all over the world with active duty moms and the response I was receiving was that it was really helpful.  A few IBCLC’s suggested I write a book and one put me in touch with Hale Publishing.  They liked my idea and I spent the next year writing my book.  I took my experience as an enlisted aircraft mechanic and combined it with my expertise as an IBCLC to write the book I wish I had had in 1996 when I was struggling to combine military service and breastfeeding.  In 2010 my book, Breastfeeding in Combat Boots, was published.

So how does this have anything to do with Veterans Day?  Well, it made me realize that while I may not have fought in any wars or seen combat, my military service taught me to believe in myself, to persevere against long odds, and to keep trying even others tell me I won’t succeed.  If it wasn’t for my military service I never would’ve had the experience of breastfeeding while serving my country and hence would not have been able to write my book, or become an IBCLC that specializes in helping active duty women to breastfeed.  So yes, I am proud to call myself a Veteran…I may not have served in combat, but I did breastfeed in combat boots!

I want to extend my sincerest thank you to all the women, past and present, who have served our country.  Were it not for the WACS,WAVES, WASPS, Women Marines, and others who broke down many barriers, women serving today would not have the opportunities that we currently have.  And thank you to the many women who have breastfed while in the military, whether it was for 6 weeks, 6 months or years…you have Given the Breast for Baby and Country and for that you deserve huge congratulations!!

Why am I bringing this up now? Because October 8-14 is International Babywearing Week and I wanted to bring some awareness to this form of baby care that is not as well known within the military community.

Babies (and toddlers too!) cry and fuss for all sorts of reasons, it is their only way to communicate with you and let you know that something is wrong.  Crying is your baby’s way of telling you he has a need to be held, rocked, changed, fed, burped or soothed.  It really doesn’t matter what the reason is, when a baby cries it is a very real need that needs to be responded too.  By responding to his cries you are teaching him trust and that his needs will get met.  But you may be wondering how you are supposed to manage to get anything done if you are holding your baby all the time.

One option for meeting your baby’s needs is to carry him in a sling or other type of carrier (such as a wrap or Ergo).  Studies have shown that babies who are carried cry 43% less than babies who are not.  Carrying your baby satisfies his need for being held, soothed, fed (you can breastfeed in a sling), and it allows you to manage household duties as well since your hands are free.  Biologically speaking we are meant to carry our infants on our bodies, our milk is low in fat so we need to breastfeed our babies often; and our babies are born with a grasping reflex to hold onto the hair that no longer covers our bodies. For a newborn, carrying your baby replicates the time in the womb, where he was rocked and heard your heartbeat 24/7.  For babies, being carried allows them to see the world from your perspective (rather than just the ceiling and sky). For toddlers whose little legs get tired easy (or for those that like to run and hide in crowded shopping malls) a sling or other type carrier can be a safety zone for both mom and child.

However the most important reason for you as a military mother to use a carrier, after your return to duty, is that wearing your baby when you are at home will greatly increase the daily contact between you and your baby.  The frequent interaction and physical contact of wearing your baby has been shown to increase prolactin, one of the breastfeeding hormones, which is so important for maintaining your milk supply.  Many working mothers have found that wearing their babies in a sling when they are at home or running errands is a great way to spend quality time together which helps to offset the effects of the daily separations AND it keeps their milk supply up.

So what type of carrier should you choose?  There are many different types of front carriers, slings and backpacks available for carrying your baby.  Front carriers, slings (either adjustable ring-type or pouch style) and wraps are best for younger babies, while backpack-type carriers are better for older babies/toddlers.  Front carriers (such as a Snugli or Baby Bjorn) can be cumbersome to use as they have a number of buckles and straps, and they are good only to about 15-20 pounds.  It is virtually impossible to breastfeed in them.  Slings and wraps on the other hand, slip on easily and can be used in a variety of positions and are good from birth to about 3 years old (35-40 pounds). You can easily and discreetly breastfeed your baby in a sling or wrap, and if your baby falls asleep you can slip out of it leaving your baby sleeping peacefully.  It is important that you practice using your sling or wrap often with your baby, and don’t give up if you or your baby doesn’t like it at first. Like anything new, wearing your baby takes some getting used to. Slings and wraps can be found at some maternity stores, LLL groups often sell them or you can order one online (see Resources). Here are some very basic directions for using a sling; you can also look online for videos demonstrating how to wear a sling or a wrap:

• Lift sling over head, padded section on shoulder and rings where a corsage would go.
• Fluff fabric so it is not twisted
• Balance baby on shoulder (one without the sling) and guide feet into sling.  For newborns you may fold a small receiving blanket or towel under him for added support.
• Pull up 3-5 inches of sling between you and baby.
• With one hand under baby, lift him and with other hand pull on tab of sling to cinch it tighter, sling and baby should be right under your breasts.
• Walk or rock or jiggle to help him settle in sling.

As with most things parenting related, you need to find what works for you and your baby.  Wearing your baby isn’t for everyone, if you find it that you or your baby simply aren’t enjoying it, then don’t continue.  A sling or wrap is just another tool to use to help you stay close to your baby.  You don’t need to hold and carry your baby every second of the day that you are at home to form a strong bond with your baby.  But don’t be scared to pick him up or carry him for fear of spoiling him, it just isn’t possible.  Babies (and toddlers) have always needed to be picked up and carried when they fuss, and you are meeting his needs by doing so.

Do you wear your baby?  Does your husband?  Have you found that babywearing helps you get things done and stay close to your little one?  Share your thoughts below!!  

A few months ago a new book by Florence Williams, Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, came out that explores, among other things, the link between toxins and breastmilk.  In it Ms. Williams (a writer for the New York Times) states that,

“When we nurse our babies, we feed them not only the fats and sugars that fire their immune systems, cellular metabolisms and cerebral synapses. We also feed them, in albeit miniscule amounts, paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, wood preservatives, toilet deoderisers, cosmetic additives, gasoline byproducts, rocket fuel, termite poisons and flame-retardants.”

And then earlier this week, Fran Dreschler (a celebrity), was quoted on the Tommy Show stating that, “American women have the highest amount of flame retardant in their breast milk, we’re selling these women that breast milk is the second coming. Breasts are like big sponges.” She goes onto encourage nursing women to undergo a three-day test urine test to ensure they aren’t passing toxins onto their children.

Hearing and reading about chemicals and toxins in breastmilk can be very sobering to a new breastfeeding mother, and enough to make any mom wonder if she’s endangering her child by breastfeeding.  And for mothers in the military who must work around HAZMAT and toxins as part of their duties, it can easily lead to the conclusion that one must wean immediately. But before you conclude that breastmilk is unsafe – and research does show that this kind of information does scare women into NOT breastfeeding – let’s review some facts that are specific for the military mother who works with hazardous materials:

1. Determine your level of exposure to HAZMAT at your workplace. Do you work on the flight line everyday for 12+ hours sucking down JP-8 exhaust fumes or are you participating in weapons quals on the range once a year? Do you occasionally get splashed by hydraulic fluid or are you working on the ship chipping lead paint?  How you are exposed (inhalation, dermal, ingestion) and how often you are exposed (daily, weekly, quarterly) can make a big difference in the amount of toxins in your milk. Keep in mind that the military is required to keep your toxic exposure at safe levels, so you are not going to be exposed to poisonous levels. However, your levels may be at higher levels than is safe for your baby.

2. Not everything that you are exposed to makes it into your milk. The human body has a number of checks and balances and it does a pretty good job of screening out harmful substances.  Toxins have to pass through digestive system, where they are either destroyed or eliminated, or they pass through the liver where they are filtered out before making it to the bloodstream.  If the toxic substance makes to the bloodstream, the toxins have to be small enough to pass through the cell wall or fat-loving enough to slip through.  Even if they do slip through and your baby ingests the toxin, it then has to make it through your baby’s digestive system where it may be destroyed or eliminated before ending up in his or her bloodstream.  However, this system isn’t foolproof, so do be aware that there are plenty of chemicals and toxins in the military that can and do make it into breastmilk that could pose a threat to your baby’s health.

3. The vast majority of exposure to chemicals and toxins are passed to your baby during pregnancy, not breastfeeding.  And once your baby is born, the most critical time for toxic exposure is during the newborn period when the cells in the breast are ‘leaky’ and toxins can cross over into the milk more easily.  The age of your baby makes a difference in exposure levels in two ways: a 6 week old cannot metabolize toxins as easily and is also receiving a lot more breastmilk than a 6 month old or a 12 month baby.  Keep this in mind if you request a job modification to another area.  You may need to only be away from your usual workplace for 3-4 months rather than a full year once your baby is older and not taking in as much breastmilk (and is able to metabolize it better).

4. All the studies that have been done, showing the many benefits to breastfeeding…have been done with ‘contaminated breastmilk’.  It is in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the cans and plastic our food is wrapped in, etc.   We cannot get away from it.  And yet even contaminated breastmilk still provides protection against so many illnesses and diseases while formula cannot. Furthermore, the cows and soybeans that formula is manufactured from are also exposed to many of the same environmental toxins (sometimes at higher rates).  As pointed out in this  Scientific American article, “Despite breast milk’s vulnerability to chemical contamination, the benefits of breast feeding – from the nutrition and important enzymes and antibodies it supplies to the mother/child bonding it provides – far outweigh the risks.”  Ultimately it is a decision that you have to make, but make sure that you are not trading the known disease and illness fighting benefits of ‘tainted’ breastmilk for equally ‘tainted’ formula that has no disease and illness fighting properties.

5. Many reputable studies have shown that breastmilk counteracts the negative effects of toxins, especially long-term breastfeeding.  In particular, a recent study found that a healthy bacteria in breastmilk called bifidobacterium can actually metabolize perchlorate (a rocket fuel), thereby reducing the risk of any negative developmental effects . We are only beginning to understand all the ingredients in breastmilk and how they interact with the baby’s body…it is not out of the realm of possibility that a similar effect might be seen with jet fuel or other similar military chemicals.  It is worth trying to breastfeed as long as possible, even into your baby’s 2nd year, in order to better counteract the negative effects of toxins.  Many of the protective effects of breastmilk are dose-dependent, meaning the more your baby receives, the more of a positive effect it has.  

6. Take action to reduce your exposure.  It seems like a no-brainer, but be sure that you are wearing your personal protective equipment while at work.  Shower and change your work uniform before leaving your workspace and launder your uniforms separately from baby’s clothes.  Take your work boots off before entering your home. Don’t smoke or overdo it on the alcohol as both have been shown to increase your toxic load.  Reduce the environmental toxins in your home that you are exposed to so that you are not adding that to your toxic burden by following some simple steps, as outlined by Healthy Child, Healthy World.  Shop for pesticide-free foods and use environmentally-friendly personal care and cleaning products.

7. Every major health organization (AAP, AAFP, CDC, WHO, U.S. Surgeon General) has come to the conclusion that breastmilk, even contaminated breastmilk, far outweighs the risks of formula and recommend breastfeeding.  The International Lactation Consultant Association states in their position paper (pdf) that, “Breast milk remains a safe, life-enhancing method to feed and nurture infants and young children.”  While the CDC states that:  “Breastfeeding is still recommended despite the presence of chemical toxins. However, for the vast majority of women the benefits of breastfeeding appear to far outweigh the risks.“  I’ll say it again, there are no easy answers here, but do weigh your options, speak to your occupational health personnel, supervisor, and an IBCLC before making a decision.

If you want more information about toxins in breastmilk, including the everyday kind that we encounter in our homes, at the grocery store, in the water we drink and the air we breathe, then I encourage you to read this blog post, Science You Can Use: Worried about toxins in your breastmilk? Get the facts., at the Best for Babes website.

If you want more information about military HAZMAT in breastmilk and possible exposure as part of your MOS, I encourage you to go to this page, HAZMAT, here on the Breastfeeding in Combat Boots website.

How have you dealt with HAZMAT exposure?  Are you concerned about toxins (both environmental and occupational) in your breastmilk? Do you feel that contaminated breastmilk is better than formula or not?

Keyana is a combat veteran who earned a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge as an E-5 SGT combat medic in the South Carolina Army National Guard.  She is currently on active duty orders with the Recruiting and Retention Command.  During her previous assignment with a combat engineer unit she deployed 2010 and came under rocket attack and sustained blast injuries that left her with slight shrapnel damage to her left breast which required minor removal surgery and damaged some of her milk ducts.

She has pushed through the physical difficulties associated with the damage to her breast and is successfully breastfeeding her daughter. Read about her struggles to overcome her injuries and to Beat the Booby Traps©  at our partner, Best for Babes blog.  It helps that her current unit has been very understanding during both her pregnancy and return from convalescent leave. In fact, when she came back from maternity leave, they had already covered the windows to her office in preparation for her pumping sessions. While interviewing Keyana, she stated that, “So far I have not received any negativity regarding breastfeeding. No one bothers me when my door is closed.”

Now that Keyana is off the battlefield, she is turning her attention to helping other military mothers be successful at breastfeeding.  She has formed a team, Operation Lactation Freedom, and is raising money to bring awareness and support for breastfeeding to women in uniform.  ”I am a mother in combat boots, combat veteran, and a labor doula.  I stand strong for service to this country and service to mothers.  When I had my son at 18, I didn’t know enough and didn’t have enough support to stand on my own.  Now with my daughter, I push through, not just for myself but for others as well.  I have to pave the way so that there is freedom when its my daughter’s turn to be a mother!!!”  Breastfeeding in Combat Boots is proud to share her story and support her and Team Operation Lactation Freedom!

Breastfeeding in Combat Boots is proud to partner with Best for Babes to support breastfeeding military moms!  Team Operation Lactation Freedom runs to bring awareness and support for breastfeeding especially for women in uniform and women from low income backgrounds. Let’s let freedom ring for moms and babies – freedom to make an informed feeding decision, freedom to carry that out without being bulllied or booby-trapped, freedom to get the support every momma and baby deserve to do something instinctive, healthy and good for everyone!

Team Best For Babes Operation Lactation Freedom and their Special Dad Forces are on a mission to let freedom ring for breastfeeding moms and babies!  They’re racing to Beat the Breastfeeding Booby Traps(R) that prevent military and civilian moms from reaching their personal breastfeeding goals!  Join us at the Broad Street Ramble in Augusta, GA on October 27, or support our Team! To join or donate go to:  http://teambfb.bestforbabes.org/2012/OpLac/  Best for Babes is also running a graphic design contest awarding a $100 VISA gift card to the person who creates the best new Best for Babes racing shirt in support of Team Operation Lactation Freedom.

I was asked to go Aviano Air Base in Italy to help them celebrate and participate in their WBW activities.  And what a wonderful series of activities did they have planned!  Over the course of a week (July 27-Aug 2) I gave a number of presentations to both the AD mothers and to the command leadership regarding everything from hazardous materials exposure, pumps and pumping, to how supervisors can support AD mothers. I was also interviewed by Armed Forces Network radio and television (view the TV interview here).  There was a WBW cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion as well.  But the highlight of the trip was being the keynote speaker at the WBW celebration where the women who have breastfed exclusively for 6 months are presented a Command Coin.  The Aviano WBW Command Coin has the Aviano Air Base insignia on one side and a lovely image of a civilian mom and a military mom back-to-back breastfeeding their babies with the words “Protect, Promote, Support Breastfeeding” encircling them.  I was honored to both give the speech and to help give out the Command Coins to 13 AD military mothers and 52 military spouses.

It is remarkable to consider that 13 AD mothers faced the many challenges of breastfeeding, while serving in the military, and made it to 6 months of EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding. That is a huge accomplishment and one that these moms should be rightfully proud of.  Active duty military mothers face numerous challenges such as returning to work at 6 weeks, separations of 12-18 hours each day, deployments away from baby, hostile work environments, hazardous materials exposure, and a lack of time and place to pump that civilian mothers do not encounter.  It is a testament to the amazing support given to them by their command leadership and the IBCLC’s at Avaino; as well as the New Parent Support Team and the Aviano Breastfeeding Support Group that they are and continue to be successful.

Some of the stories that the AD moms shared with me are amazing: one mom’s baby refused to take bottles at all and for 6 months she would literally run to the base CDC to feed her baby 3 times a day. Other moms had milk supply issues or premature babies or needed to go TAD while their babies were young, and they still managed to provide exclusive breastmilk for 6 months.  Their dedication and persistence has paid off.  I met many beautiful and healthy breastfed babies growing strong on their mothers milk.  Many of the mothers commented that they are more productive at work due to not having to take sick leave to care for their babies, that they are in better shape and able to pass the PFA with ease, and all of them said that they would remain in the military due to their ability to combine breastfeeding with their service.  All of this is due feeling supported in their efforts to breastfeed.   In addition, the AD moms commented that knowing that there were and are other AD military mothers breastfeeding on the base and being able to meet each other and share tips and techniques was very important to their success.  They all also agreed that the Command Coin is special and something that they also strive towards receiving and that it helps them get through the rough patches on the way to 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.

The Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy each have distinct, all-encompassing policies that outline the benefits of breastfeeding to baby, mom and the military; along with guidelines for a place to pump and time to pump.  But the Army has nothing definitive and readily accessible for soldiers and their supervisors. Instead the Army has a hodgepodge of various programs, instructions, and regulations with scattered references here and there regarding breastfeeding.  There is not a single policy that is comprehensive or complete like those of its sister services.  And that is a shame since having healthy families helps to maintain healthy soldiers which in turn maintains a healthy and strong Army.   Currently the Army has a small paragraph regarding breastfeeding in the Guide to Female Soldier Readiness, one brief mention in the Army PPPT Program, and buried deep within AR 614-30 is the 6 month deferment from deployment clause (but that applies to all postpartum women, breastfeeding or not).  There used to be a Sample Breastfeeding Memo available for women to use to create their own memo to send up their CoC when requesting a place and time to express milk.  This policy referenced all of the major health and economic benefits of breastfeeding from leading organizations such as the AAP, but more importantly it provided a template for requesting a place and time for pumping, how to manage breastfeeding/pumping during the duty day, PT requirements, and storage and handling requirements of the expressed breastmilk.  Unfortunately that memo seems to have disappeared and can no longer be found on the AMEDD website (I have included a copy here and it is also on the Resources page).  Some commands have, in the past, created local policy regarding breastfeeding and expressing breastmilk during the duty day.  The most notable being the policy that was in place at Ft. Lewis in the early 2000′s, titled “Policy on Support for Soldiers with Nursing Infants”.  This was a wonderful policy that included education and training for commands and mothers regarding breastfeeding and pumping, but more importantly it created a model for transporting expressed breastmilk from the field (during FTXs) back to headquarters for caregivers to pick up on a daily basis.  That too has disappeared and with it the promise of a similar Army-wide policy (again I have included it here for reference).

Given what we know about the benefits of breastfeeding of breastfeeding for babies (take a look at the AHRQ statement, the AAP statement, and Bartick study) as well as for the mothers, and the cost savings for the DoD; it seems illogical that the Army hasn’t come up with a policy yet.  In fact, Army Major Michael Bell wrote a two-piece study in 2003 (Breastfeeding in the Military Part One and Part Two), outlining WHY breastfeeding in the military is so important to mission readiness, retention and recruitment; and gave concrete examples of how to implement breastfeeding policy within each of the services.  And yet the Army still hasn’t followed up and created their own policy.  Meanwhile Army mothers are struggling to convince their CoC to allow them time to pump, or give them a place to pump; they are being sent out on training exercises or deployed while their babies are still exclusively breastfeeding, or are working with HAZMAT….and have no real recourse or way to request what they need to be successful.  A breastfeeding policy works both ways: it allows the mother to request the time and place that she needs, while providing guidance to the chain of command for what they required to provide.  That way everyone is on the same page.  Otherwise it is left up to the individual to fight for what she needs and it only takes one person who doesn’t agree to say no.  Which happens far too often…

Let’s take a look at the slogan above:  The Strength of our nation is our Army, the Strength of our Army is our Soldiers, the Strength of our Soldiers is our Families.  So starting from the bottom up, if you want strong families, shouldn’t the babies be breastfed??  Breastfeeding, and providing expressed breastmilk, grows strong, healthy babies. And if mom is breastfeeding, and feeling supported in her efforts, that makes her both stronger and more likely to remain in the Army, which in turn makes the Army Stronger.

If the Army wants it’s soldiers to be strong (as well as family members) then it seems to me that the best way to do that would be to support breastfeeding by creating a policy.  If the other services can do it, so can the Army.