Army releases servicewide breastfeeding policy, what are your thoughts on this new policy?

Can common sense ever prevail in the military? Do we really have to have a regulation outlining breaks on breastfeeding? I'm thinkin too hard.

The reason a policy has to exist is because Soldiers are not receiving the support they need to ensure they are able to maintain their milk supply and provide the best nutrition for their child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastmilk until 12 months of age. If leaders are not aware of the needs of these new Moms, and these Moms are not able to pump as often as they need to in order to maintain their supply one of two things will happen - 1. They will suffer from mastitis and blocked ducts because they are unable to pump and/or 2. Their supply will decrease, which will prevent them from continuing to breastfeed. This is not to say that those Moms who formula feed aren't providing for their children as well. Any Mom who is ensuring that her child's nutritional needs are met is doing a phenomenal job. Not all women are able to breastfeed, and I understand and empathize with that.

The most common cause of early cessation of breastfeeding is lack of employer support. I don't think that it is a lack of caring on the part of leadership, but more so of lack of knowledge and education. This policy is going to create dialogue between the medical and leadership lanes to make sure this happens. Moms who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from post-partum depression, diabetes, hypertension and other cardiac disease, lowers risk of various cancers, and assists with weight loss and return to pre-baby weight in addition to the health benefits to the child. Children who are breastfed (or receive pumped breastmilk) are less likely to have sick-baby visits, which means that the parents are staying home less with a sick child - this translates to more productive parents because they are not on quarters to care of an ill child.

I have had Soldiers who have been so dedicated to continuing to breastfeed that they have pumped in their cars. I personally have pumped in my car, in my office, in a phone booth at the Denver Airport USO, and an A/V Room at Fort Rucker. This policy ensures that women don't have to skulk into a corner or a dirty restroom to be able to continue to pump. This has almost zero mission impact - the 20 or so minutes it would take to pump is nothing compared to the number of Soldiers who take smoke breaks every day. If you feel it is going to decrease productivity, you had better start weaning your other Soldiers off the nicotine because they take more time than a pumping Mom will. Soldiers typically pump before PT, after PT during personal hygeine time, during lunch, and again in the afternoon (roughly every 3 hours). That means that the only time they are using to pump that is not already a designated break or personal time is once in the afternoon.

TL:DR Version: This is a good thing. Leaders should make every effort to support this and support their new Moms.

Long overdue. Not sure why it took so long to make the policy. Worth noting though, most were being given the opportunity to pump/breastfeed without issue regardless of the policy.