ALCOAST 267/24 - JUL 2024 UPDATE TO PREGNANCY IN THE COAST GUARD

R 081656Z JUL 24 MID120001272788U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 267/24
SSIC 1000
SUBJ: UPDATE TO PREGNANCY IN THE COAST GUARD
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 292003Z JUN 23/ALCOAST 242/23
B. Pregnancy in the Coast Guard, COMDTINST 1000.9
C. Safety and Environmental Health Manual, COMDTINST M5100.47D
D. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1F
E. Food Safety and Sanitation (FSS) Tactics, Techniques, and
Procedures (TTP), CGTTP 4-11.12C
F. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617)
G. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq)
1. This ALCOAST continues REF (A), which updated policies in REFs
(B) through (E). The policy updates previously announced in REF (A)
are outlined in paragraphs 2 and 3 below.
2. The policy updates in REF (B) are as follows:
    a. If the service member opts to breastfeed after returning to
duty, the member and command will communicate to address any
concerns or issues.
    b. Unit commanders, commanding officers, and officers in charge
must support service members who breastfeed.
    c. Ensure availability of a private, clean room with
locking capabilities for expressing breast milk during the workday.
The facility will be as close as possible to a water source for
washing hands and rinsing equipment and equipped with a table,
chair, and electrical outlets. Multi-purpose rooms (i.e. duty room),
staterooms, berthing areas, or other similar living spaces may be
used as long as privacy can be assured for the time required. Heads
are not an appropriate location for expressing breast milk.
    d. Unit commanders, commanding officers, and officers in charge
will ensure that nursing mothers have adequate time to express
breast milk and must be aware that each person's situation is
unique. The time required to express breast milk varies and depends
on several factors, including the age of the infant, amount of milk
produced, quality of the pump, and distance the pumping location is
from the workplace, as well as how conveniently located the water
source is from the pumping location.
3. The following policy changes remove barriers for appropriate
breast milk storage in support of nursing mothers:
    a. REF (C) is updated as follows: Breast milk expressed by
nursing mothers is considered food. FSO/FSMs will allocate space in
dining facility refrigeration units to accommodate the storage of
nursing mothers' breast milk whenever refrigeration is necessary and
otherwise unavailable. Refer to the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) guidelines for storing breast milk.
    b. REF (D) is updated as follows: Personal gear and clothing are
not to be stored in the Health Services Department without written
authorization from the Independent Duty Health Services Technician
(IDHS) or the unit Medical Officer. Lactation equipment belonging to
breast-feeding crewmembers is an example of personal gear that may
be authorized for storage in medical facilities.
    c. REF (E) is updated with a new section as follows: Storage of
Breast Milk Expressed by Breast-Feeding Mothers:
      (1) Breast milk expressed by nursing mothers is considered
food and may be stored in dining facility refrigerators and
freezers.
      (2) The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
provides clear guidelines for breast milk storage. The nursing
mother is required to ensure proper storage in accordance with the
CDC guidelines.
      (3) Food grade storage containers for use by nursing mothers
should be secured to ensure quality control. Breast milk packaged in
accordance with CDC guidelines should be placed inside a securable
container within the refrigerator or freezer (e.g. Cambro
containers or Carlisle containers).
      (4) Cutters considering pursuing the installation of an
additional freezer or refrigerator to support breast milk storage
are advised to engage with their respective product line to ensure
compliance with all applicable configuration management and
technical standards.
4. These changes are in effect and will be incorporated to REFs
(B) through (E) within the next year.
5. This message will be cancelled on 07 JUL 2025.
6. Questions regarding Health, Safety & Work-Life should be directed
to your Safety and Environmental Health Officer (SEHO) or visit:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

http://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/hswlsc/SafeEvHealth/SitePages/
Contacts.aspx

7. Questions regarding changes to military personnel policy should
be directed to COMDT (CG-1M11): HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
8. RADM Michael W. Raymond, Assistant Commandant for Military
Personnel (CG-1M), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.