Nursing room opens, eases transition for mothers

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kylee Gardner | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerrika Stark, 7th Force Support Squadron community activity center noncommissioned officer in charge, holds her 10-month-old daughter at the Hangar Center on Dyess Air Force Base, Texas Aug. 16, 2017. Stark works with support groups to bring awareness to the growing need for nursing rooms in military moms’ work environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kylee Thomas)  

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES

08.18.2017

Story by Airman Kylee Gardner 

7th Bomb Wing

Today there are approximately 62,000 active duty women serving in the Air Force. Of these Airmen, many are honored with the gift of being a mother.
For many female Airmen, being a mother is a very tough job. Often these mothers bring their life as a mom to work with them, whether it’s by watching their child while they work or by nursing in a bathroom for their newborn baby.
“Nursing is beautiful but it’s something that is not without pain and sacrifice,” said Tech. Sgt. Jerrika Stark, 7th Force Support Squadron community activity center noncommissioned officer in charge.
These women are not only Airmen, but also full-time mothers. In support of these Airmen, many facilities on base have implemented a private room for mothers to come nurse for their children.
“This room made the transition from being a stay at home mom for three months to being a full time Airman much easier because I felt like I could still balance the two,” said Senior Airman Katherine Miller, 7th Bomb Wing photojournalist. “I felt I could still be a working mom as well as a breast feeding mom and not feel like work was taking away from that or vice versa.”
Some facilities on base that have recognized the need for these rooms include: the 317th Airlift Wing, 7th Bomb Wing, 7th Force Support Squadron and 7th Medical Group which just recently opened a room for brand new mothers.
For these mothers, having a private room to nurse in is a necessity.
“As a mom, it’s hard nursing just anywhere, especially if you’re in the military,” said Stark. “It’s something that’s not looked at as normal yet so it can be uncomfortable for some new mothers who need to nurse while at work and not have a place to go.”
In the past, some of these new mothers have had to make the choice of pumping for their child in their car or in a public bathroom. However, now women have the ability to use a nursing room to pump or breastfeed in peace.
“Once I came back to work I had to find a place to go or wonder if I even had a place to go,” said Miller. “At home it’s different because I feel comfortable breast feeding whenever without having any bystanders or the feeling of people judging me.”
These new rooms provide a clean space for mothers to pump and ensure them they will always have a place to go.
“No woman should ever have to nurse or breastfeed in a bathroom,” said Miller. “Would you pack your lunch and eat yours in the bathroom? If you wouldn’t, my child shouldn’t have to either.”
Along with supporting the comfort and easy transition for new mothers coming back to work, these rooms also support the health of our Airmen.
“If you don’t pump and don’t relieve the pressure that builds up you can get sick,” said Stark. “You have to be on bed rest, you start feeling really sick and you even get a fever and the only way to get better is with antibiotics and nursing.”
Overall, these facilities recognize the hard work mothers put into not only their families, but also into being determined Airmen.
“I’m expected to be a full-time mom as well as a full-time Airman,” said Stark. “To me, knowing I have access to a safe place where I can go to nurse and a support system as strong as the Air Force standing by me is relieving because I know I can still be a mother while at work.”

• Date Taken: 08.18.2017
• Date Posted: 08.18.2017 12:31
• Story ID: 245250
• Location: DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, TX, US