Win a copy of "Breastfeeding in Combat Boots"

I'm pleased to share a guest post by Robyn Roche-Paull, author of Breastfeeding in Combat Boots.  Robyn is an IBCLC in private practice an active La Leche League Leader.  In her practice she primarily helps military mothers balance returning to active duty while continuing to breastfeed. Robyn is a US Navy Veteran who successfully breastfed her son for over a year while on active duty as an aircraft mechanic.  Check out the Breastfeeding in Combat Boots website and Facebook page!

You can enter to win a copy of Breastfeeding in Combat Boots by following the instructions at the end of this post!

Over the years, both as an active-duty sailor breastfeeding her own baby, and later, as an IBCLC helping other active-duty moms to breastfeed their babies, I’ve heard the same questions and concerns over and over from military mothers, “Can I breastfeed while on active duty?” and “How often do I need to pump during a 12-hour shift?” While other questions are very specific, such as “I work with JP-8 fueling aircraft every day, can I feed
my baby my pumped milk?” or “I will be deploying to Iraq for four months. Can I pump and ship my milk home from overseas?”

I wrote Breastfeeding in Combat Boots to answer those, and many other questions.  More importantly, I want to reassure and provide military moms with insight into the rewarding, and yes, wonderful aspects of breastfeeding on active duty, while also giving a realistic look at the challenges that lay ahead. And finally, I want to give military breastfeeding moms the tools they need to succeed. I want to show that, except for some very unusual circumstances, with a little preparation, a “can do” attitude, and some creativity, it is possible to breastfeed on active duty.

Breastfeeding in Combat Boots is written primarily for pregnant and breastfeeding moms serving on active duty in any of the five branches of the U.S. military: Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard, as well as the Reserves and the National Guard. However, women in other militaries around the world may find the information (except for the policies) in this book applicable to their situations as well.  Women in professions such as firefighting, police, EMT, long-haul trucking, or any other job with unusual hours, time away from home, and heavy physical exertion, or who work in a male-dominated environment
may also find this book to be helpful.

As with other breastfeeding how-to books, I want to make the information as accessible as possible. Breastfeeding in Combat Boots has been written to be read either
straight through from beginning to end, or in sections as the need arises. I’ve structured this book around the military lifestyle and grouped the chapters into five major sections. Each section is prefaced with a true story written by a current or former active-duty mother who breastfed her child(ren) while serving in the military.

Section 1-Indoctrination is devoted to explaining the importance of breastfeeding for you, your baby, and your command, using the latest research and evidence-based information available.

Section 2-Basic Training gives an overview of the basics of breastfeeding and how to survive those all-important first six weeks.

Section 3-Duty Calls discusses the breastfeeding policies of each branch of the military, pumps and pumping basics, and breastfeeding-friendly childcare tips.

Section 4-In the Field examines the many different challenges that military duty presents for the breastfeeding mother, such as workplace environments, HAZMAT, deployments, PRT/PFT, uniforms, and co- worker issues.

Section 5-Off Duty covers the many types of breastfeeding support that are available on and off-base for the military mother.

Within each section, there are several chapters covering the information concisely and in-depth. You will find boxes with tips and techniques, quotes, and statistics that reinforce the information found in the main portion of the chapter. The back of the book has numerous appendices with references, websites, books, and handouts that I have found helpful for active-duty breastfeeding mothers over the years.

In summary, is breastfeeding on active duty worth it? Yes, you bet it is! Breastfeeding is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. You won’t regret for a moment the time and energy or the love and commitment those bottles of pumped breastmilk represent. The inconveniences you may endure will be worth it a hundred times over when your baby gazes up at you with adoring eyes as he is snuggled up at your breast.  With the number of military mothers I’ve spoken with over the years, I’ve never met one who didn’t tell me it was the hardest thing they ever did…and who also said that it was the one thing they were most proud of.  You can do it too!

To enter to win a copy of Breastfeeding in Combat Boots leave a comment below by September 10th, 2010.  One entry per person, U.S. addresses only.  Winner will be chosen using random.org, notified by email, and announced in the comments section.  Book will be mailed by author.  Please note:  Winners who do not respond to email within 3 days forfeit prize, and alternate winners will be chosen.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed? Subscribe here.  Want to subscribe to our breastfeeding podcasts on iTunes?  Click here.