European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 07, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Military moms learn to juggle nursing newborns and their jobs by Effie Batman staff writer he image of a Sailor Soldier or airman with a baby at the breast seems a Little Odd against that of today s modern military. But with the number of working mothers who nurse their babies increasing it is Little wonder that More Active duty servicewomen Are choosing to follow suit. Breast feeding is about managing time said senior airman Jean Vaughn. Most people in the military can do  she is nursing her second child Jordan 3 months while holding Down her Job in customer relations at Span Dahlem a s 52nd comm so in Germany. She also nursed her first son Colin now 17 months for about a year while on Active duly. She counts herself As Lucky. She. Was Able to pump her milk during Breaks and store it in the refrigerator so that her husband could feed it to her son in a bottle when she was not Home. Properly stored breast milk will keep in the refrigerator 24 hours and May be Frozen for three or four months. Still nursing is difficult for servicewomen when they have changing shifts Are on Maneu vers or Lack privacy. The most trying time for Vaughn was when she had a month Long escort detail that kept her away from the baby longer than usual leaving papa at Home to juggle stored milk and Jordan s feedings. Whether any working woman can be successful at nursing a baby depends on the dad s support said Dori West la leche league Leader for the Pitburg and Span Dahlem military communities. The International league is a non profit organization that informs and encourages mothers who want to breast feed their babies. She and Vaughn met at a picnic sunday that kicked off world breastfeeding week sponsored in conjunction with the world health organization and Unicof. Saturday August 7, 1993 a Csc. Is Effi Bathon senior airman Jean Vaughn nurses her 3-month-old son Jordan at a picnic. Working mothers Are creative said West. They la find an empty office or put a sign on the door pumping in Progress. As for Vaughn the advantages were Worth the struggle. She found that work pulled her away from her children but nursing them pulled her closer. It s free you just need a few More calories she said. You Don t need to Ness with formula. And it s better for the children big  her husband said he liked it because he did t have to Deal with Stinky  also important for Active duty women is losing the weight they gained during pregnancy so they can get Back in uniform. Five-foot-7 and normally weighing 140 pounds Vaughn gained 60 pounds during pregnancy. She lost the pounds within months. Another former airman Mommy is Sandy Rozell. A single Mother at the time she found that her 12-hour night shifts on an assignment in the Philippines allowed her to her breast feed her child for about three months before she had to quit. After she left the service she nursed her second baby longer. Now she has regrets about the first time she said. I did t know How much i was going to miss out  Michele de Vos nursed her first baby for about 10 months before she left the air Force. She was a Jet engine Mechanic and staff sergeant. Her office Job allowed her to run Home and nurse the baby at lunch and pump milk during Breaks. De Vos though found that finding a baby Sitter sympathetic to breast feeding was difficult. On top of that night feedings left her exhausted. She turned to the league for help it s More important than just breast feeding she said it s the whole philosophy of raising  they told her to tuck the baby into bed with her she said. She slept. I slept. It worked out  overseas information on la Lech a Lea qua or other support group is available at military and local hospitals. In the states la Lech league can to reached at 708-455-7730 of the toll True hotline 1- 800 455-7730. Sas eff Bath a Jocclyn Allen shows off to shirt and smile. Closer look breast feeding helps both Mother and child the greatest difficulties for mothers nursing babies for the first time is that they have have not seen it done before. People have lost this womanly Art said Dori West a Leader of la leche league a support group for women who want to breast feed. It is also less Likely that they have seen a woman manage nursing while holding Down a Job outside the Home. We encourage breast feeding said Barbara Slifer a spokeswoman for the 7th medical come. Human milk is the Best source of nutrition for full term infants in the first six months of  Mother s milk has antibodies that protect infants against some childhood illnesses and allergies. Babies who Are breast fed have fewer problems with Colic Gas and diarrhoea. Breast feeding is also nature s Way of helping a new Mother flatten her Tummy and get Back to her prenatal weight research also indicates that she May have a lower incidence of breast cancer. A working Mother who wants to continue breast feeding As Well As any nursing Mother needs to learn As much As she can about the natural nursing Cycle. Doctors and health professionals can give her advice on avoiding smoking and eliminating some foods like caffeine that May cause problems. They can help avoid difficulties and May refer nursing mothers to support groups. But military doctors Don t always know enough to help a Mother who wants to continue to work said West. Her group gives Motherly reassurance As Well As advice on pumping milk storing it and timing feedings. For example they Tell women to Start pumping milk in Small amounts a few weeks. After their babies Are born to build up a Reserve. They also recommend two breast pumps to save time and understand about dealing with the Laws of milk Supply and demand monday floods and Friday trickles. Practically they advise Active duty women to Purchase uniforms a size larger and keep an extra at the office. Everybody should get into the act. Having support from dad and people in the workplace is critical said West. Some women nurse their babies for six weeks the length of their maternity leave and then that s it. Some do not understand that a newborns have different needs from babies that Are 6 months old or older. According to West a new Mother panics my baby was up All night Long last night he cried i m worn out. My breasts Hurt my nipples Hurt a doctor is inclined to Tell her she should consider bottle feeding said West. The mothers in her group would give her suggestions to help her sleep through the night rest with the baby during the Day and prevent soreness. Effie Bathon the stars and stripes 17