Pamela,

While I don't have any resources for you on the effects of the 
chemicals on breastmilk, I can safely guess that anything she is 
exposed to, if it affects the milk, won't affect it to such a point 
that ABM is better.  I think of how we even recommend that a mother 
who smokes keep breastfeeding because her milk is always better than 
ABM.  

The other point I need to make is that, even if she discovers that she 
is exposed to things that affect her negatively, unless she has a very 
flexible and understanding commander, there is nothing she can do 
under current regulations.  When she is pregnant, a military mother 
signs a form stating whether she is requesting release from the 
military or wishes to stay; if she elects to stay on active duty, the 
form she signs states that she will be given no consideration for 
assignments based on her status as a parent.

That being said, there are some people working on these policies and 
we can always hope for progress.  Additionally, this servicewoman can 
always ask through her chain of command or through her medical 
caregivers (pediatrician is where I'd start) for some flexibility if 
she can prove that the exposures are harmful to her baby.  If the 
answer is "no," she might not have any recourse (unless she seeks it 
through higher channels and wins), but the answer might be "yes" and 
buy her some time.

--Diana in NY (on active duty in the Army myself)

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