Does this mean that the crew members' own breastfed children are accompanying them on this mission, or is it as I fear, that their children are far away, being fed stored breastmilk at best, by whoever is left *holding the baby*?   

I can't quite put into words why this disturbs me, without belittling the generosity of these crew members, and I sincerely want to honor their gift.  Having lived somewhere for the last quarter century with long paid maternity leave and breastfeeding breaks with no age limit on the child, both guaranteed in national legislation, it's jarring to think that there are so many lactating women on active duty in another Western country.  I think their willingness to help may tell us something about the pain they feel if they have had to leave babies of their own.  And I hope I would do the same, in a similar situation.

One thing this news item does illustrate is that it is never far to a source of fresh breastmilk, no farther than the nearest group of women - or the nearest visiting celebrity ambassador like Salma Hayek.  Really puts the lie to the need for massive amounts of formula, or - heaven forbid - 30,000 feeding bottles from an oh-so-'green' company. 

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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