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 There are Many Ways to Breastfeed Your Baby
Breastfeeding Classes
Practical skills to help you meet your breastfeeding goals.
Postpartum Mental Health Support
Taking care of baby starts with taking care of yourself.
Lactation Consultants
Personalized guidance and support.
Social Workers
Connection to local resources.
Maternity Care Coordinators
Coordination of care, referrals.
Support Groups
Lactation support groups with new mothers.
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Supplies you may be eligible for:
- Breast pumps
- Nursing bras and pads
- Nipple cream and shields
- Milk storage bags
Breastfeeding benefits both babies and mothers.
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What you need to know
If you’re a woman Veteran who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you’re likely thinking about what’s best for your health and your baby’s health. An important part of that is figuring out the best way to feed your baby. While it’s a deeply personal journey, VA is here to help you understand the benefits, challenges, and resources available for breastfeeding and lactation support.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding offers a wide range of health benefits for both you and your baby. Human milk is packed with nutrients and antibodies, particularly in the first few days after birth. These antibodies can help protect your newborn from infections and illness. According to the Academy of Pediatrics, long-term benefits for your baby include a lower risk of:
- Asthma and allergies
- Type 1 diabetes
- Childhood obesity
- Leukemia
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
But the benefits don’t stop with your baby. Breastfeeding can help your body recover from pregnancy and childbirth, and the act of breastfeeding releases hormones that may reduce your risk of postpartum depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control, breastfeeding can also lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, and breast cancer.
Breastfeeding Isn’t Always Easy
While breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always possible. You may find yourself the sole source of milk for your baby, which can feel overwhelming, especially when your sleep is disrupted for frequent feedings.
Plus, not everyone is able (or wants) to breastfeed. Physical or emotional challenges, certain medications, or personal reasons may make it difficult or unsafe.
It’s important to know that no matter how you nourish your baby, you’re not alone. Reaching out to a support network of other parents, either in person or online, can make a big difference in your experience. VA’s maternity care coordinators are also here to connect you to supportive services and resources based on your needs. We fully support whatever path you take. What matters most is finding what works best for you and your baby and having access to the right support along the way.
VA's Breastfeeding and Lactation Services
VA offers a wide range of lactation and postpartum services to help you breastfeed. These services are available at many VA facilities and, in some cases, through VA’s Community Care program.
Some of the services and supplies VA may provide include:
- Breastfeeding classes
- Lactation counseling and education
- Support groups
- Breast pumps
- Nursing and pumping bras
- Nipple cream and nipple shields
- Milk storage bags
- Postpartum support belts
If breastfeeding isn’t possible for you, VA can connect you with community resources such as human milk banks or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Accessing Support Through VA
To get started, reach out to your maternity care coordinator or a lactation professional at your local VA facility. They will work with you to create a care plan that fits your needs. They can also connect you with additional services through VA Community Care or other community organizations.
You can locate your nearest VA health facility with the VA Location Finder.
To learn more about VA’s breastfeeding and lactation support services, visit the VA Women’s health Breastfeeding and Lactation webpage or download our Lactation Services brochure.
For questions, the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) is a great place to start. Staffed by women, many of whom are Veterans themselves, the WVCC can help guide you through the services available and connect you with your local women Veterans program manager. You can reach the WVCC by calling or texting 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636), Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
Whether you breastfeed, use formula, or a combination of both, VA is here to support you. You deserve care that respects you, supports your well-being, and helps you thrive, before, during, and after pregnancy.
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Eating well during Pregnancy can ease symptoms and keep your body healthy. VA offers nutrition counseling, healthy cooking classes and more to help you make informed, personalized choices. 🥗
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 To test your nutrition knowledge, answer the questions below as either True or False.
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True
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False
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1. There are many nondairy sources of calcium.
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2. Low-fat foods are always better.
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3. Fiber isn’t important.
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4. You need to watch portion sizes only when eating at home.
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5. The outside aisles of the grocery store are the best places to shop.
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Answers
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TRUE. While dairy products have the most calcium, you can also get this mineral from other foods, too. Try calcium-fortified juices, cereals, breads, rice milk, or almond milk. Other sources of calcium are canned fish, some beans, and dark, leafy greens. Soybeans and some soy items are also good options. These include soy yogurt, tempeh, and tofu made with calcium sulfate.
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FALSE. Just because a food is low fat or fat free does not mean it’s always a better nutritional choice. For instance, fat-free cookies have the same amount of sugar and calories, or often even more, than regular cookies. Read labels.
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FALSE. High-fiber foods help keep your digestive system healthy. Try to get 25 to 38 grams of fiber a day. Also, remember to drink plenty of water to prevent constipation.
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FALSE. Portion control is just as important when you’re eating out. Many restaurants serve extra-large portions. So split your entree with someone at the table. Or ask for a take-home box. Then put half of your entree in it right away, before you start eating.
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FALSE. It's true that the outside aisles are where the fresh foods tend to be. These include fruits, vegetables, and dairy. But you can find many nutritious foods on the inside aisles. These include whole grains such as brown rice, whole-wheat pastas and tortillas, canned fish, dried beans, canned (no salt added) vegetables, nuts, seeds, and frozen fruits and vegetables.
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One Veteran Swaps Cocktails for Mocktails
Alyssa Pumford, RD
 If you’d like to wake up feeling more refreshed, full of energy and ready to tackle the day, consider trying mocktails instead of cocktails. A mocktail is a drink that contains no alcohol but resembles drinks that do.
A drink might seem like an easy way to unwind, but Cathy, a Veteran who uses the New Mexico VA Health Care System, did not realize the negative effects of drinking four cocktails per night.
Cathy’s VA care team identified her drinking as a likely cause for her sleep problems and irregular eating schedule. By replacing some cocktails with mocktails made using non-alcoholic ingredients, Cathy experienced improved sleep, which in turn helped her eat on a regular schedule. Eating regularly improved her blood sugar, cholesterol and hormonal cycles.
The benefits of drinking less
For Cathy and many others, making the switch from cocktails to mocktails can be life changing, with far reaching positive effects.
Over the past decade, more than one in four Veterans consumed alcohol at levels that risked their health and well-being. Too much alcohol can lead to mental health disorders, relationship difficulties and long-term physical health issues. Current research suggests that drinking even one to two drinks per day is linked with increased risk of several chronic health conditions.
Reducing alcohol consumption can improve sleep quality, increase energy levels, lower the risk of various forms of cancer and improve mood stability. As Cathy discovered, these positive changes contribute over time to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Easy, tasty mocktail ideas
There are many different mocktail recipes and non-alcoholic wines, spirits and seltzers to choose from. The Healthy Teaching Kitchen page features delicious alternatives to alcoholic drinks, like this blueberry kombucha spritzer.
Here are some other simple mocktail recipes to try:
- Virgin Mojito: Combine 10 fresh mint leaves, juice from 1 lime, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 cup of sparkling water.
- Cucumber Cooler: Blend half a sliced cucumber with one-fourth cup of lime juice, a touch of honey, and 1 cup of sparkling water.
Non-Alcoholic Sangria: Combine 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup grape juice and a half-cup pomegranate juice with fresh thin slices of apple, orange and lemon, and add 2 cups of sparkling water.
More help
Some Veterans may need more support as they try to drink less. If you or a Veteran you know is experiencing harms related to alcohol use, VA offers a range of services from outpatient treatment to inpatient residential programs.
VA’s online Alcohol and Drug Education course has more information on substance use and treatment. To learn more about programs near you, contact the mental health department at your local VA.
By choosing to raise a glass of a tasty and healthy non-alcoholic drink and accepting help when needed, Veterans can lead healthier lives.
If you’re interested in learning more about nutrition-related topics, contact your local VA nutrition department to speak to a registered dietitian. Cheers to making positive choices!
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Apple Carrot Salad
 Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 3 medium apples, washed, cored and diced with skins on
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅛ cup low-fat mayonnaise
Directions
Combine all ingredients. Chill thoroughly. Serve on salad greens.
Serves about 6
Serving size is about 1/6 recipe.
Each serving provides about 110 calories, 1 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol,140 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 3 g dietary fiber, 20 g sugar, 1 g protein.
Barbeque Chicken Pizza
(Gout-friendly)
 Ingredients
- 1 ready-made 12-inch-diameter thin pizza crust
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 cup sliced onion
- 1/2 cup thin green or red pepper strips
- 1 cup cooked chicken, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce
- 1 cup shredded part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat oil in a frying pan and add onion and pepper strips. Saute over medium heat until soft, adding a little water instead of more oil if onion and pepper start to burn.
Add chicken and barbecue sauce. Stir and remove from heat. Place ready-made crust on pizza pan or baking sheet. Spread chicken, onion, and pepper mix evenly on crust. Top with mozzarella. Bake for 10 minutes, watching carefully that cheese doesn't brown too much.
Makes 8 slices
Each slice contains about 220 calories, 26 g protein, 7 g fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 26 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, and 469 mg sodium.
This recipe is gout-friendly because it contains food moderate in purines.
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 Women Veterans Menopause Treatment Clinic
Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is excited to announce new Menopause related care for our Women Veterans!
Starting on July 23rd we will offer a menopause clinic to help those with various menopause symptoms.
Are you having symptoms of perimenopause or menopause?
Starting July 23, 2025, Dr. Gary Sweet, Women's Reproductive & Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner will be seeing Women Veterans on Wednesdays and Fridays. Appointments are available face to face at Ernest Childers Clinic or virtually via VVC appointments.
The clinic will focus on management of all aspects of menopause, including medication, education, osteoporosis prevention, and management of B12, Vitamin D and stress.
If you're interested in an appointment, please contact your PCP and ask them to submit "Menopause Consult".
Women Veterans Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Clinic
July 24th Eastern Oklahoma VA will be starting a Pelvic floor Physical Therapy clinic on Thursdays in Muskogee.
New state of the art pelvic floor Ultrasound equipment has been purchased and we are excited to offer this service to our Women Veterans as non surgical alternative to treat urinary incontinence.
Ask your PCP if this service could be right for you!
Are you having symptoms of a weakened pelvic floor or urinary incontinence?
Starting July 24, 2025, Ashley Sells, PT, DPT will be seeing Women Veterans in the new pelvic floor rehab clinic. This clinic will be on Thursdays in Muskogee.
The clinic will focus on management of pelvic floor issues, especially urinary incontinence.
If you're interested in an appointment, please contact your PCP and ask them to submit "Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Consult".
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 Join Us for VETFEST Grove
Saturday, August 2nd at Grove Community Center!
Presented by Cherokee Nation Warrior Wellness & Eagle OPS Foundation. VETFEST Grove is more than an event—it’s a mission in motion.
Event Details
Date: August 2, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Grove Community Center
As proud partners in the SSG Parker Fox Suicide Prevention Grant, Cherokee Nation Warrior Wellness and Eagle OPS are working together to build stronger bridges between veterans and the resources that serve them. This day is about connection, access, and action.
Whether you're a veteran needing support or a family member seeking guidance, VETFEST Grove brings essential services directly to you—with on-site experts available to help with:
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- Applying for VA Benefits
- Start your VA benefits application with guided support.
- Claim Status & Advice
- Get updates and answers on existing claims.
- Filing Disability Claims
- Submit or update service-connected disability claims.
- Updating Dependents & Filing Survivor Benefits
- Make changes to your VA record or get help filing for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and other survivor benefits.
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This family-friendly day also includes:
- Games and activities for all ages
- Fresh-grilled burgers (while supplies last)
- A relaxed, community-centered atmosphere
- Veteran-specific community resource booths
- Connection opportunities with fellow veterans and service organizations
Come out, bring the family, and experience a day of unity, support, and purpose—because together, we’re stronger.
Make sure to RSVP for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card from AMAZON!
*Be sure to complete the Warrior Wellness Check in at the event to be eligible for the drawing!
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Only 44% of women Veterans are enrolled in VA health care. Learn about benefits and services available for transitioning service women and recently separated women Veterans in the Women's Health Transition Training Handbook.
A majority of women Veterans are not utilizing their earned benefits. As a result, they do not have access to the VA health care system or the low- or no-cost care it offers.
It's never too late to enroll in VA health care services.
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Oklahoma Arts Council, Muskogee Area Arts Council, OK Department of Veterans Affairs – Women's division proudly present a series of art lessons for the Veteran women of Oklahoma.
Get your creativity on!!!
July thru December on the first Monday of the month at the Muskogee Art Guild.
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Watercolor: August 4, 2025
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Acrylic Pours: September 8, 2025
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Scratchboard: October 6, 2025
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Fiber Art: November 3, 2025
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Acrylic Painting: December 1, 2025
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Women Veterans Deserve Respect
VA promises to be a safe place to receive care.
Nationwide, 81% of women in the U.S. report experiencing some form of harassment or assault in their lifetime (compared to 43% of men). A recent women Veteran study found that some women have reported being harassed while on VA grounds, a place where all Veterans deserve respectful and safe care.
These experiences send a negative message to the Veterans VA serves. For women Veterans, harassment in a health care setting can bring up earlier military sexual trauma. This is not acceptable.
What Harassment Looks Like
For women Veterans, harassment can take many forms, including:
- Being called inappropriate names like “sweetheart” or “baby”
- Enduring catcalling, staring, or leering
- Receiving intrusive questions such as, “Are you single?”
- Being told, “You don’t look like you belong here.”
- Getting unwanted comments about appearance or clothing
- Experiencing invasive actions like being touched, followed, or photographed without permission
- Being repeatedly referred to as Mister when called for appointments
These behaviors aren’t just uncomfortable; they can also remind the Veteran of past traumatic experiences. Some Veterans may avoid, miss, or delay important health care appointments as a result.
What VA Is Doing and What You Can Do
VA is actively working to eliminate all forms of harassment in its facilities. Here's how:
Zero-tolerance policy: No form of harassment is acceptable. Ever.
Ongoing education: Staff, patients, and visitors are learning to identify and intervene in harassment through public messaging and training.
Support systems: Veterans can report harassment anonymously and receive follow-up support, counseling, and investigation.
If you see or experience harassment at a VA facility, report it.
There are several ways you can report harassment, including the following:
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 Suicide is Preventable and Support is Available
Suicide has no single cause and no one approach can end it—but prevention is possible, especially when women Veterans find support before a crisis happens.
Women Veterans may have unique experiences related to military service, health and wellbeing, or trauma that can increase the risk of suicide. Some also face medical and social issues that affect relationships and quality of life. Military service can lead to readjustment issues, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trouble sleeping, or even physical injury. Additionally, reproductive health conditions that women Veterans sometimes face may take a toll on their mental health.
VA is committed to offering a growing range of resources and a network of support for all women Veterans, including those who do not, and may never, seek care within the VA health care system. Whether it's mental health care or treatment for chronic pain or other health concerns, VA can provide personalized, gender-tailored care to help women Veterans. Each VA medical center also has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator to connect women Veterans to counseling and services.
Additionally, creating a safety plan now, by identifying coping strategies and sources of support, can help give suicidal thoughts time to decrease and become more manageable in a future crisis. Download the VA Safety Plan app or create one together with your VA health care team.
The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Veterans, family, and friends can reach out. Dial 988 and press 1, text 828255, or chat online. Visit the VA Women’s Health suicide prevention page for more resources.
Call 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) to speak to a real person and connect to VA women’s health care.
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Come to our New Veteran Orientation Held Monthly at Ernest Childers Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa
Are you new to VA health care? Are you a current VA patient, but want to learn more about what services and benefits VA has to offer and how to obtain them?
Join Us For New Veteran Orientation
When: The 2nd Thursday of every month
Where: Ernest Childers VA Clinic 8921 S. Mingo Rd. Tulsa, OK 74113 2nd floor, Rooms 2008 - 2010 (across from optometry)
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Open to all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and community partners.
- Meet representatives from various departments within the VA
- Learn about the processes for getting things done at the VA
- Learn about and sign up for My HealtheVet
- Question and answer session
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Check out our back-issues for more Women Veterans resources and popular topics.
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