The World Health Organization recognizes Aug. 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cites that breastfeeding fosters warmth and closeness between mother and baby, and a mother’s milk provides all the nutrients, calories and fluids a baby needs to be healthy. The AAP also says that breastfed babies are less likely to develop illnesses such as ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing or bronchiolitis, and other bacterial and viral infections.
Having a newborn can be a roller coaster ride of emotions, from sweet euphoria to overwhelming anxiety. For military spouses and active duty mothers trying to breastfeed, this journey can present its own unique challenges — finding a place to breast pump at the squadron, locating lactation help during a PCS, navigating nursing and new parent support at an overseas base, and the list goes on.
In 2016, Evelina Fisher and Ariel Dinnell co-founded Tri-Border Breastfeeding Support on NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany to assist nursing mothers. Prior to PCSing to Germany from Georgia, Fisher, an Air Force spouse and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS), was interested in setting up a breastfeeding group similar to the one she founded in the U.S., Middle Georgia Breastfeeding Alliance. However, she was unsure if there would be a need. Before arriving at Geilenkirchen, she came across a Facebook post on the Mom2Mom breastfeeding group at Ramstein Air Base.
“A mom posted that she really needed help. Her baby wasn’t gaining weight, but she was far away at a tiny NATO base. It was a mom at Geilenkirchen,” said Fisher. “I immediately responded that I would be arriving in the area in two days. I realized that if there was one parent who needed support, then I would be there for that parent. It turned out there were more parents who needed support.”
Meanwhile, Dinnell, an active duty Air Battle Manager in the Air Force (she retired in December 2016), had just become a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and was figuring out how to serve the community. The two met at a birthing class held at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The class was conducted by a midwife who traveled two hours from NATO headquarters in Mons, Belgium. She suggested the pair establish their own breastfeeding group.
With Dinnell’s knowledge working on base, she was quickly able to get the group set up. She worked through the base legal office, the Private Organization point of contact with the Force Support Squadron and then the senior national representative. After constructing a constitution and by-laws, the group held its first meeting in January 2017.
Filling a Void
Breastfeeding support on installations has made its strides, but Dinnell says there will never be enough until there is something offered at every base, or at least nearby.
“Before we started Tri-Border Breastfeeding Support, the closest lactation counselor was two hours away. Even if there is a La Leche League or other breastfeeding group in the base’s area, the unique challenges military spouses and active duty mothers have are really only understood fully by other active duty mothers and military spouses.”
Lauren Brandl, member of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) and the current head of Tri-Border Breastfeeding Support, agrees.
“I was a founder of Tinker Air Force Base Breastfeeding Support,” explains Brandl, an Air Force spouse. “The entire reason I earned my IBCLC credentials was to provide services to military families. There was little I had access to when I was a young mom and wife to a new airman. Not many people outside the military understand things like the stress of PCSing or high ops tempos.”
Journeying Together
Tri-Border Breastfeeding Support began with a casual “café” format at the AFRC where mothers could hang out, ask questions, and share their experiences with other nursing moms. Eventually, breastfeeding classes and a pumping class called “Express Yourself” were also added. The counselors also offer direct, one-on-one counseling with mothers, while the Facebook group has been a forum for ongoing advice and discussion. While attendees were mostly Americans, the group’s presence on a NATO base helped draw international participants from countries like Scotland and Romania. Ruth Whyte, a Royal Navy spouse from Glasgow, Scotland, is one mother who knows firsthand the tremendous impact of the group.
“It was my first baby; I had no idea about infant feeding or anything about being a mummy,” recalls Whyte, mother of a 3-year-old girl, Amulree. “Little did I know how much these women would have an impact on my life. Sitting [at my first café], I went in knowing nothing, but when I left two hours later I was certain about how I was going to feed my baby. As the group grew, so did the friendships and the bonds that would tie me to this time in my life forever.”
Whyte also notes the important role fathers play and how meaningful it was to have her husband, Chris, accompany her on the breastfeeding journey.
“It’s a lifestyle choice and you need both mummy and daddy to be on board,” explains Whyte. “So when the breastfeeding class came up, he came too. Not only did we learn a lot at the class, our own bond as husband and wife grew too. If you get the chance to go to a breastfeeding class as a couple, grab it with both hands and go together.”
Dinnell’s experience as a breastfeeding mother on active duty helped her provide firsthand support for fellow moms in uniform. Dinnell recognizes the steps the military has taken to help.
“There are more pumping rooms being created in work centers across services,” explains Dinnell. “Most women used to pump in locker rooms or bathroom stalls, something I had to do myself. There is still work to be done, but the environment is more aware of the effort it takes and the benefits of allowing female military members to pump/breastfeed.”
Lactation rooms have also been added to the AFRC at Geilenkirchen.
“We now have two Public Health Certified Lactation Rooms which have been praised by the CMSgt at the Pentagon,” notes Brandl. “Our partnership with the AFRC gives families a place to come for lactation and social support.”
Long-lasting Impact
Both Fisher and Dinnell share positive sentiments about being a witness to these mothers during a pivotal moment in their lives.
“It was great seeing other mothers encourage their peers,” said Dinnell. “Sometimes Evelina and I didn’t even have to talk at group meetings as peer-to-peer interaction was already providing support.”
“The best part is the human interaction,” said Fisher. “It is being a witness to a person’s birth as a mother and making them realize that they are not alone.”
Dinnell emphasizes the importance of gathering allies in order to bring more breastfeeding support to the military community.
“Evelina and I found each other and were willing to do whatever it took to help the community. The more allies you gather, the easier it is to navigate getting formalized [as an organization]. Message groups at other bases, ask them how they got started and go from there,” advises Dinnell.
Online Breastfeeding Resources
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
Interested in becoming a lactation counselor?
Visit the U.S. Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) uslca.org for more information on the various types of credentials and requirements