MHAFB CC policy on breastfeeding

Well, I was going to leave a detailed comment, however SrA touched on most of what I was going to say.

This is one out of two reasons why my husband and I decided it was best for me to separate from active duty. Though I absolutely LOVED my job, I LOVED the military, deploying was the third best thing that has ever happened to me in life (just below falling in love with my husband, and carrying his baby), and I was in the process of moving on to work with some of the coolest missions!!! However, I don't see long term breast feeding being practical while on active duty. As friendly as the policy letter seems, it was written by people that don't understand the details of breastfeeding and how each baby and each woman are so vastly different.

I'll just leave it at that, since I don't know if we can handle discussing such topics with a woman. I do not wish to offend anyone or make anyone feel uncomfortable.

I feel that both sides got their feelings involved in a discussion where reason and logic could be sufficient. It's like LGBTQ+ and what is acceptable by the military. You may have feelings one way or another, and sometimes, the military forces us to not express those opinions, and sometimes those opinions have to change, but that's for those above us to decide, and if we disagree, well, I wasn't afraid to walk through that door when I felt the military was not copacetic for my views and way of life, as far as caring for my child. Afterall, the military didn't issue me a baby, right?

Sir, I was in the process of forming my thoughts as I didn't want to say anything inappropriate or make this about something it was not. I have extensive research to back up my opinions as well as those I did not touch on, but some of the supporting medical information can be uncomfortable for some. If you wish to know more in an emotion-free setting, feel free to send me a message. Though it may take me a moment to respond.

COL Jean (John) F. Burleson

Maybe we want change each others opinion but shouldn't we give it a go before retreating so easily. I mean everything I say in good form with point's trying to be made as best I can. But if you have said your peace then I will say no more about the subject.

It's been real.

SrA Kelly Richard

Thank you for your heartfelt response. I appreciate it.

I am sorry you decided to get out of then Air Force, although I know some find it very difficult to balance the responsibilities of being in the military and being a mother. It is difficult enough in civilian life, and even more-so in military life.

I am certainly not against breast feeding and think that it is a natural act and one that many studies have shown to be what is best for the baby, both in terms of nourishment and in bonding with the mother. I greatly respect mothers who decided to nurse their babies. There are certainly much simpler ways to get the babies the nourishment they need. Nursing mothers show that they care more about the well-being of their babies than they do about convenience.

Although I think nursing babies is a wonderful, natural act, my personal feeling is that it should also be a private act, to the extent possible. I do not believe that most women want to expose themselves in public while nursing their babies and, as such, most seek a private location or do their best to cover-up/be discreet about it. In my opinion, those who do not appear to be more interested in making a personal/political statement than in providing nourishment to their babies.

While I fully understand the right of nursing mothers to nurse their babies, I believe that right should be subject to certain limitations. I see nothing wrong with requiring nursing mothers to do so in private or to not unnecessarily expose their breasts in public. Comments such as posted by TSgt (Join to see), which attempt to compare nursing with women wearing bikinis, fail to state that women wearing bikinis would not be allowed in most public facilities (PX/BX, federal buildings, malls, offices, etc.) without covering up. Again, rights have limitations.

Thank you again for your response. I appreciate it when people at least state the reason for their down vote.

Ma'am, then you are already following the intent of the memorandum. They aren't saying you have to be in private, they are saying they have to offer you a private room, or you have to use a cover... you use a cover, there is nothing wrong with that.

I agree

I'd say the policy is that anyone trying to stop a mother from breastfeeding get whacked upside the back of the head, Agent Gibbs style (see the TV show NCIS).

Further, anyone trying to force a breastfeeding mother to go into a restroom to do it is required, regardless of skillset, to last two 90 second rounds in the ring with me. (I'm a taekwondo black belt).

Once again, COL Charles Williams, has allowed his experience, expertise, knowledge and wisdom shine. Thank you, Sir, for being the kind of leader you are. This, to me, would be equal to asking the mother of a 5 year old to go behind closed doors at McDonald's to feed her child a Happy Meal. I don't see parents of older children putting a blanket over their child's head to eat, either. Nursing mother's should be treated no differently. If one has never seen a female breast before, they have bigger problems to worry about than a mother feeding her baby. Get a life, people, and move on. If this had not been God's plan, he wouldn't have given women enlarged beasts and milk glands to provide nutrition for their offspring.

I just cut a fart.....but I was fired before so.....PC is killing me slowly....as for breastfeeding if she wants to whip out the breast in public to feed her kid, oh well, not hurting my feelings. So what if someone else gets uncomfortable they could easily depart the room.

I wish I could vote this up twice

SrA (Join to see) I don't think the commander is directing that it not be done in public, he is simply saying that modesty and decorum should be displayed. It would be one thing for the commander to say "Don't do it in public at all" but he has gone as far as to command his people to offer more private and comfortable areas for the process. When/if the mother decides to not use that option, he simply asks that the mother use something to cover herself. It isn't about the sexuality of the process, but because it can cause awkward situations for everyone involved.

thats the problem right there.. its men having devolved breasts into a sex thing, our inability to control the way we see something.

Alright, that right there was funny. But please don't give them another good idea fairy.

It's obvious we have a militant supporter of breastfeeding among us. This is not the forum for discussion of the merits of sexual attraction, so I'm going to leave that point be as ridiculous as it is. LTC (Join to see) has brought up the only salient point so far. This policy conflicts with federal law, which is something I was admittedly not tracking.

Outside of that, I stand by my position. If there are issues with legality, then the law needs to be further clarified. While I obviously cannot experience it firsthand, I have a good amount of exposure to breastfeeding mothers. My wife has breastfed for the last 7 months. It is not a convenient endeavor. However I still feel it should be acceptable to expect some level of modesty. We expect women to cover their breasts at the beach. Why does a baby suddenly negate our decency laws?

1LT Because it's a baby!!! wow there not your soldiers! We are one of the only country's that look down on public nudity yet have one of the highest grossing markets for porn. Its a boob get over it!!

Nudity is not the problem. The problem is how we are conditioned to respond to it (almost entirely sexually). Let's consider a reasonability clause here: Can we reasonably say that every time anyone sees breastfeeding occurring, that most people will look at it, at least in part, with sexual overtones? Actually, seeing where this nation's culture is, I am not surprised that we have this problem. So belay my last, this nation's culture has become unaccustomed to separating the thought of nudity and sexuality. I agree with some here that say that women SHOULD cover up, as a courtesy (as a courtesy to unreasonable people, I might add), but they should never be punished for breastfeeding in public.

I totally agree that if someone is bothered by breastfeeding in public, a cover should be used. I hereby propose we hand out blankets so that those bothered by public breastfeeding can cover their own heads and sit under one until the child is finished eating. That way the sight will not bother them, federal law is not being broken, and no one's rights are infringed upon.