Is it Worth it to Nurse for a Short Time?
July 1, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under mothering, pumping
If you knew you might only be able to nurse for a few months before you might have to be separated from your baby for an extended period of time, would it be worth it to breastfeed for those few months or should you formula-feed in an attempt to spare your baby from an additional pain of separation? That’s the issue raised by a military mother on the article U.S. Military Rules for Breastfeeding Mothers. Jami wrote:
Why is it that everyone but the Air Force is at LEAST 6 months deferment – The above article and all the profiles I have seen state that the deferment for deployment is 4 months – but we aren’t even eligible to PT for 6 months… umm… am I missing something? I have one daughter and am pregnant with my second…I did not breast feed with my daughter because of the simple fact of deployments… My now ARMY doctor is pressuring me to breast feed with my second one… but I argue the fact WHY? So I can up and deploy in 4 months and leave my baby stranded and alone wondering where his/her real food is? It would be heartbreaking to watch my baby be torn from my breast a short 4 months later… The Military is NOT family oriented… if they wont allow us women to adequately take care of our children, then I do not believe they should have allowed us to sign the contract in the first place. Not to mention a large percentage of the Miltary are Men – who like you other bloggers have stated… do not understand OR want to comprehend the aspects of breastfeeding. I would love to raise awarness on this issue – but where would you even start? The policy needs to be changed… period. Thanks for listening.
Hi Jami,
Here are a few thoughts for you and hopefully others will chime in as well. I can hear your frustration and I totally agree that the policy needs to be changed.
I do want to commend that army doctor for encouraging you to breastfeed. Every little bit of breast milk — a day, a month, or four months — is good for your baby and supplies lasting health benefits. It would be awful to have to leave a breastfed baby (any baby!) at four months, no doubt about it. There are ways it can be done to minimize the impact on your baby. Let’s think through some of the options.
- You might not be deployed.
- You will already be bottle-feeding for work, and you could build up a freezer stash that could last a considerable amount of time should you be deployed. Any necessary transition to formula could be done little by little.
- Bonding at the breast is wonderful. You could nurse for a couple of months and then switch to exclusive pumping if you are worried about making a sudden transition should you be deployed. It’s not ideal (as in, not easy to pump exclusively, or to switch to bottle-feeding alone) but it gives you that time and that option to continue.
- Your doctor sounds quite favorable to breastfeeding. Perhaps when the time comes she or he would be willing to write a note that says you need additional deferment.
I encourage you to talk to a local La Leche League leader for free to think through your feelings and your options. It’s not a good position to be put in, and the decisions are difficult ones. Congratulations on expecting your second baby!
Do any other readers have thoughts for what to do when faced with a potential separation?
to answer your title ? – YES! No matter how short the period, whatever mother’s milk you can give your baby will have an impact in his health. Btw, have you heard about that air force captain deployed in afghanistan who regularly ships milk to her baby? here is there story: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/jan/09/long-journey-for-mothers-milk/
I totally agree that any time breast feeding is worth it. Yes, it will be that much harder to leave, if you have to. But imagine the sweet time you will have before then. And then, if you do have to leave, the baby will still be getting a little part of you for a while after if you are able to store up some milk. Give it a shot. Formula has come a long way, but breastfeeding is so enjoyable. I am looking forward to that part again with my 3rd child and I work as well.
All it takes is a few minutes on the internet and one can find the medical information with the science to back it up on the importance of breastfeeding, even for just a short time.
What I have found in the military is that most people are uninformed or misinformed regarding the policies on breastfeeding and post-birth deployment deferments. Although I don’t like the current policies and believe that they need to be changed, at least a 12 month post-birth deferment policy to begin with, most of them allow for commanders to make case-by-case exceptions. My advice to all military members, including supervisors and commanders, not just breastfeeding moms, is to start by learning the regulations. If you are expecting a baby, or are a current breastfeeding mother, talk with your medical provider, your supervisor, you commander, your first sergeant, any and everyone who has the ability to support you and assist you with your breastfeeding plans. Let everyone know your intention to breastfeed up to a year, or as long as possible. Ask to be excused from duties or TDYs or deployments that could interfere with your breastfeeding even before you have the baby. I know, sometimes even the best laid plans and the supervisors with the best of intentions are overriden by military mission. That is why the policies need to change. Do the best you can under the current guidelines, however, we all need to be fighting for change.
I find it absolutely ridiculous and humiliating to have to explain the intimate details of breastfeeding/breast pumping to senior ranking officials, just so I can feed my baby. The medical community needs to do a better job educating and creating awareness about breastfeeding issues in the military. It shouldn’t be left up to the new mom to explain the benefits and justification to the supervisors and commanders of why she should and needs to be breastfeeding her baby.
Anyone have any advice on where to start to change policy?