Pumping Tips for Military Moms
For many women, being a working mother is already hard enough. Finding the time to breastfeed at home and then pump at work is a whole new set of challenges that all moms face when they eventually continue their daily work routines. And what if you’re a mom who could use some pumping tips in the military?
What if you’re a mom in the military – whether reserve or active?
As a provider of Ardo, Spectra, Medela, Hygeia, and Ameda breast pumps covered by TRICARE, we know that leaving your newborn for deployment, a temporary duty assignment, etc., can be difficult. We most certainly know that it’s also hard for many military moms, both active and reserve, to continue breastfeeding and pumping no matter what their job is in the military.
Are you a (new) military mom? Well, rest assured knowing you can continue breastfeeding for as long as you want.
We are here to tell you that yes, if you’ve just become a military mom, then it’s a definite possibility for you to continue providing your newborn with breast milk. However, whether you do it will depend on your attitude, and how comfortable you feel telling others you are pumping, and possibly being around others while you pump.
In fact, if you’re a military mom, here are some pumping tips for you to consider if you feel strongly about continuing to provide your child with breast milk.
1. Inform your higher-ups or superiors.
Fortunately, the military has become very supportive of expressing military moms. So, don’t be afraid to let your superiors know that you want to pump. Just make it clear to the chain of command your schedule may have to be tweaked to accommodate pumping and, most importantly, to keep your milk supply steady.
2. Obtain a quality pump through your TRICARE insurance.
If you have TRICARE (a health care program for service members and their loved ones) you can obtain a top-rated breast pump from a company like the Breastfeeding Shop that will be covered by your TRICARE. What’s more, if you know you will have access to an electrical outlet while you’re away, we highly suggest that you opt for a double electric breast pump set to pump more milk at a faster pace.
3. Make sure you stay flexible if something unexpected occurs.
While you may have designated pumping times and spots, it’s important for you to be flexible if something unexpected occurs. So, mentally prepare yourself just in case you end up pumping somewhere else than your normal spot, or in front of more people than usual.
If you consider these three tips, we are sure you will have a much better pumping experience as a military mom. To learn more about our top-rated breast pumps for sale and those that you can acquire through TRICARE, please browse our site, or email CustomerService@TheBreastfeedingShop.com. We are more than happy to help military moms who need free breast pumping equipment. So, reach out to us today!
