Breastfeeding experiences of active duty military women

Abstract

In the last 2 decades there has been an increase in both women in the workforce and women who breastfeed. All women in the workforce may experience a variety of issues when trying to combine breastfeeding and employment. Active duty women may experience issues similar to civilian working mothers, as well as issues specific to military service. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the breastfeeding experiences of active duty military women. An interactive interview process was used with a purposive sample obtained from the breast-feeding population of a Midwestern Air Force base. Overall, the nine women included in this study will provide health care professionals with knowledge to address more effectively the needs of the active duty breastfeeding mother.