Military Birth Talk
Military Birth Talk features birth stories from service members, spouses, veterans, and providers, all told through the unique lens of birthing in the military. Birth is a profound, unforgettable experience leaving a lifelong imprint on our hearts. For military families and service members, giving birth and parenting in our community presents its own unique, challenging, and empowering realities--giving birth alone or in a foreign country, navigating Tricare during miscarriage or infertility obstacles, or being on Active Duty without the option to birth outside of the hospital are just a few of the realities we may face. By sharing our stories, we hope to increase transparency and information for fellow military families, providers, and policy makers. Tune in each Thursday for a new episode.
Military Birth Talk is a project of the Military Birth Resource Network and Postpartum Coalition. To learn more, please visit www.MBRNPC.org.
Are you a military community member with a story to share? Fill out an interest form at https://www.militarybirthresourcenetwork.org/podcast
Military Birth Talk
74. Navy Spouse Ali's Second Overseas Birth Story in Japan
In this episode of Military Birth Talk, Anni welcomes back Ali, who previously appeared in Season 1. Ali, a Navy spouse currently living in Japan, shares her latest birth story. Her surprising third pregnancy began amidst a planned trip to the U.S., where she received most of her prenatal care at Walter Reed. Ali experienced significant sickness during this pregnancy, and had another induced labor due to a history of high blood pressure. Her delivery was marked by slow progress, which was emotionally stressful, but ultimately resulted in a quick pushing phase after receiving an epidural. Postpartum, the baby needed extended care due to a positive Coombs test, which kept them all in the hospital for over a week. This prolonged stay impacted Ali's mental health, highlighting the difficulties of handling postpartum without a strong support system, especially overseas. Despite the challenges, Ali reflects on the positives and the strong support from her community and husband's command, which allowed her to navigate this complex experience through a grateful lens.
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