The photographer and also ex-soldier, Tara Ruby, is the author of this magnificent photograph of Ten female soldiers who pose breastfeeding their babies to normalize breastfeeding in the army.
It was taken at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas, to decorate the new infant room. If breastfeeding is so natural in all areas, or at least it should be, why is it not in the army?
When Tara was on active duty in the Air Force, from 1997 to 2001, she had to hide in empty offices and bathrooms to pump milk for her baby.
He was glad to learn that a breastfeeding room with comfortable chairs and a refrigerator to keep the extracted milk just opened at the base. But something was missing to decorate the walls, and that's when Tara was delighted to collaborate with this beautiful photograph.
They are working mothers, like so many others who need support to breastfeed their children if they choose. They deserve the support of the institutions, and comfortable and hygienic facilities to be able to do it, but above all, more extensive maternal casualties to be able to stay with their babies for longer.
Army and lactation, a controversial combination
Because of the male connotation of the army, breastfeeding is usually not well seen and accepted. Years ago, a controversial sound was created when two military mothers appeared in a photo breastfeeding their children inside a United States Air Force base while wearing the Army uniform.
They intended to raise awareness about the right of all women to breastfeed in public, but it was compared with "urinating or defecating in public and with uniform." Regrettable.
Fortunately, this time it has been better received, although for reasons we do not know, the photograph that Tara Ruby shared on her Facebook profile on Thursday night was deleted without any explanation. She decided to publish it again the next morning and now It has become a symbol.
Next to his photo he writes:
"Through the guidance of my military friends, of the Fort Bliss P3T Program, of Breastfeeding in Combat Boots, of our Garrison command and of our Public Affairs department, we have been able to demonstrate that even our uniformed mothers can provide what they need to their babies". "Breastfeeding their babies does not take away their value as soldiers, I think it makes them better. Juggling the tasks and expectations of a soldier, in addition to providing for their own in the best way possible, makes these ladies even stronger"
