Posted on May 29, 2014
YOU are the 1SG. Do you exempt a new mother from duties so she can breast feed?
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New mother has returned to work after maternity leave. Her profile is now over, and she is now back to work with everyone else. Your unit is going to the field for 21 days. She tells her leadership she cannot go to the field because she is breast feeding. What do you do?
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 40
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I had the very same issue last year. The field problem we were conducting was on post in the back 40. We had admin Soldiers making routine runs to the rear so I had the Soldier bring the required supplies and a cooler to the field she would pump the milk and place it in the cooler. The admin Soldiers would bring it to staff duty daily and the Husband/Family care person would pick it up nightly. We are here to care for both the Soldier and the Family so if it is possible to accommodate without compromising the mission then why would you not want to take care of her and her family?
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LTC (Join to see)
Glad someone thought of this idea. I actually excused the Soldier for one field exercise. Learned about it after that there was another solution. I think that there is always a way to support both missions, family and exercises.
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CPT Pedro Meza
SGM (Servicemember), Thank you for answer the question to lactating soldier solutions.
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree.. If we as leaders have the chance to take care of a soldier, then why not. She has proven she wants to be apart of the unit, just because she had a baby doesn't make her a bad soldier.. If it were not for mothers, none of us would be here
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SSG Willis Baker
My wife had guard duty at the BLSA in Vicenza, Italy after birth. I don't remember if she had a pump but I know she put the bottles in the mermite container that was provided. One of her guards opened the container, saw the bottles and asked if they were getting bottle milk instead of cartains.
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No- She can use a breast pump as I have seen others do in order to provide enough milk for their baby later. BTW- I didn't watch the use of the beast pump, I just know that I had Soldiers do that so they can work. They took it upon themselves to do this which shows character in my book.
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LTC (Join to see)
If you can help the Soldier provide milk for her child, why wouldn't you?
We "can" do a lot of messed up things to our Soldiers lives, but should we?
We "can" do a lot of messed up things to our Soldiers lives, but should we?
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SSG William Sutter
I am not saying we should do what we can. Nor am I saying we should let her do what she wants for her child. There are a lot to take in to play when making that decision.
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CPT Pedro Meza
This is an issue that needs to be discussed with the unit Commander, because it has potential to effect the chain of command, also it is a lactating soldier issue and the milk will be produced and the milk will flow for 21 days.
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SFC Nikhil Kumra
This whole thread is a bunch of guys talking about the mechanics of a woman milking her boobs... Had to put my 3D glasses on and get my pop corn.
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