Wow! I missed a lot on this one. I have been so busy lately, that I have not even been skimming posts! I am glad that I took a moment. I do understand how others feel who do not live in the United States about our maternity leaves, etc--I am right there with you, but thinking that active duty moms do not breastfeed when they are with their babies! Really? My husband has been in the military for 22 years (I have been with him since the beginning), and we have another 8 to go. During most of these years, I have supported many active duty military moms, and I do not believe that I have come across one, who did not have her baby at the breast when she was with baby.

A few examples: One mom I knew did not have her first baby until she was 40. Her husband retired from the military and was a stay at home dad. Anytime this mom had to go on a temporary duty assignment, her mother and baby came with her. Of course, she was not in any hazardous locations on these occasions.

Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawai'i did have an on site daycare for its soldiers. As far as I know, it still does. The nursing moms I worked with, would go to see their babies when they could, and nursed them.

When we lived in Italy, I worked with many active duty moms, who were breastfeeding and not just pumping.

Now, that I am in Virginia, again, all the moms that I know who are active duty and breastfeeding, are indeed, breastfeeding. 

One of these moms was also responsible for getting a lactation room set up at the Coastguard Station in Yorktown, Virginia. 

Okay back to lurking and skimming.

~Gloria Thai
Yorktown, Va




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