Coach Smith here, responding to Linda Bubeck and others about staying in
compliance with the Code in our LC work. 

I don't see any conflict here. The Code exists to make sure that any product
that competes with direct breastfeeding is marketed ethically - that means
as the need arises, for individual mothers, and in ways that do not
undermine breastfeeding for the rest of the population. For example, as
IBLCE's practicing ethically, we can't teach formula-feeding to GROUPS of
pregnant women, yet we CAN (and should) teach safe formula-feeding 1:1 to
INDIVIDUAL women who have been informed of all the facts about feeding and
decide to formula-feed. 

Likewise with pumps. If I understand correctly, you're working with
active-duty military women, right?  << Marines and Naval personnel in the
Working Moms Pumping Class>> If your class is 100% active-duty military
women, that's a  different situation than a mixed group of women
(active-duty, spouses of active-duty, and civilian women) where SOME women
will not be experiencing legally-mandated separations from their infants.

(For the record, my husband is a retired USAF colonel, and I've worked with
many active-duty military women and military spouses in multiple cities and
countries.) 

Active-duty military women must (by law) return to duty after giving birth.
Many duty assignments are incompatible with babies being with their moms.
Military mothers must (by law) find creative ways of meeting their duty
requirements AND care for their babies. Pumps (and separations) are part of
their lives while they remain on active duty.  Therefore, when teaching an
audience of 100% active-duty women, an in-depth discussion of collecting,
storing and providing expressed/pumped milk would be entirely appropriate
within the guidelines of the Code and our profession. Including
demonstrations of several brands of pumps would be appropriate FOR THAT
AUDIENCE. Go ahead and show the Medela, Ameda, Bailey, and Hygiea pumps.
Show and discuss the various pros and cons of each brand, and any others
that might be available in your area. Let 'em try the pumps on balloons, and
experiment with various feeding devices (brands of bottles, nipples, cups,
etc) so they know their options. Furthermore, some on-base child-care
facilities have cooperated with cup-feeding of breastfed babies; others
remain skeptical or negative even when faced with the facts and provided
with training on non-teat methods. The local base / station / post commander
has some influence on every activity on the base/station/post including the
child-care center serving active-duty women assigned to that
base/station/post. 

A similar discussion of pumps and feeding devices provided to a mixed
audience of military and civilian women (including military spouses) would
NOT be appropriate, because some of those women would not have a NEED for
information on collecting, storing and providing expressed milk. Civilian
women, even those who plan to return to paid employment, are not required by
LAW to leave their babies for employment purposes, and therefore have other
choices.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC, FILCA
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre, Ltd.
6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459
ph 937-438-9458 / fax 937-438-3229
www.BFLRC.com 

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