Mothers can once again freely breastfeed their children at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, now that the 366th Fighter Wing has rescinded limits on mothers nursing their babies in public.
Col. David Iverson, commander of the 366th Fighter Wing, had signed an April 16 memo which required that mothers breastfeeding their children in customer service waiting areas be offered a private room to continue nursing.
Mothers who refused to go into a private room were required to use a nursing cover or else they "may be asked to leave the area," according to the memo, which was obtained by Air Force Times. The policy applied to civilians and off-duty civil service employees, but not to active-duty service members or on-duty civilian employees.
PDF: Read the memo here
But The policy quickly went viral when the policy it was posted on to a base breastfeeding support group's Facebook page, it quickly went viral, prompting letters of protest from women who live on or near the base and hundreds of breastfeeding support groups around the world, said Elizabeth Gleese, of #uncovermhafb, a group of local mothers.
"We all sent letters; we all sent emails; we all tried to call; we all contacted the media; that's what happens when you use your voice," Gleese told Air Force Times on Thursday. "That's what happens when you stand up for what you believe in."
Iverson announced on Thursday that he had revoked the breastfeeding policy "while we look for a better way to accommodate and be respectful of all individuals in our community."
In a statement posted on Mountain Home Air Force Base's website, Iverson wrote that he appreciated the feedback he has received and he believes that breastfeeding mothers have the right to nurse in public.
"I better understand the concerns regarding breastfeeding in public and am sorry individuals were offended," Iverson said in the statement. "The policy was not intended to ostracize anyone and I regret it had that effect."
Gleese, whose husband is an airman, said mothers who breastfeed are using a tool to feed their children, just as mothers who bottle-feed their babies do.
"I'm simply using a tool," she said. "It just happens to be attached to my body."
