Guest: Julie Eshelman, Founder & CEO, Building Military Families Network Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Today's guest always dreamed of building a family. But when she and her husband began trying to conceive, they faced years of unanswered questions and a string of devastating losses.

Like many military families, Julie Eshelman's journey was shaped not just by infertility, but by deployments, changing doctors, starting over in new states, and a healthcare system that doesn't always recognize the unique challenges military families face in building a family. Julie and her husband were unable to access full fertility coverage under TRICARE, creating a financial burden to top up the physical and emotional stress they were already experiencing.

These years of heartbreak also led to joy and purpose. Julie is now the mom of a rambunctious three-year-old, and she founded the Building Military Families Network, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military and veteran families through infertility, loss, and family building. Through resources, education, and support groups, she's working to ensure others in her position don't walk this path alone.

In this episode, Julie shares her story of why she's determined to help others navigate a system that has historically overlooked the reproductive needs of those who serve.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast, and use #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].