Military Birth Talk

In this episode of “Military Birth Talk,” Annie talks with Allison Ledesma, an active duty Navy lieutenant and dual-military mom stationed in Pearl Harbor, about her two births. During her first pregnancy on shore duty in San Diego, she received care through Centering Pregnancy, discovered a breech baby at 39 weeks, had an initially unsuccessful ECV, then a second ECV in the OR that worked, followed by induction and a 30+ hour labor ending in a healthy vaginal birth supported by Balboa’s free Operation Doula program. She describes a difficult recovery, breastfeeding challenges, and returning to work after 18 weeks with supportive pumping resources. In Hawaii, her second pregnancy was also breech at 34 weeks; after hiring a doula who was also a home birth midwife, she chose a home birth for more autonomy and had a rapid, peaceful 37-week vaginal birth after baby turned head down, then navigated early postpartum largely solo when her husband left for a three-month exercise. She reflects on balancing active duty identity with motherhood, shifting priorities, frequent moves, and emphasizes asking for help and building community.

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In this episode of “Military Birth Talk,” Alice returns three months postpartum to share her second San Diego birth story. After a low-risk but exhausting pregnancy while parenting a toddler, she chose a planned home birth because the local TRICARE-accepting birth center had closed, and found supportive care with a midwife practice and a TRICARE-covered doula; her husband, active-duty Navy, was away for two months mid-pregnancy, and her mom flew from the UK near her due date to help with their two-year-old. Labor began on Thanksgiving, intensified through the day, and progressed extremely quickly: the midwives arrived after 5:30 p.m., her waters broke, she entered the pool, and the baby was born about 10 minutes later. She describes a positive, intimate postpartum at home, cord blood banking due to her older daughter’s diabetes, minimal stitches, and the challenges of divided attention and early solo parenting when her husband left for a month soon after.

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On today's episode, Anni interviews Rachelle, a Marine spouse of nearly 20 years now stationed in Japan with four daughters, about how military life shaped her pregnancies and births. Pregnant in Pensacola on TRICARE Prime, she felt blindsided by a teaching-hospital prenatal visit, prompting her to switch to TRICARE Select for greater control and choice of providers, including a certified nurse midwife. Her first labor stretched over 24 hours, leading to an epidural. She later had a natural hospital birth, a rapid third birth complicated by shoulder dystocia and a 10-pound baby, and a fourth pregnancy after a surprise deployment and during COVID, resulting in a scheduled C-section, delayed contact with her baby, and difficult hospital logistics. She emphasizes stepping up to support newly arrived moms and offering practical help without waiting to be asked.

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In this episode of “Military Birth Talk,” Anni welcomes back Zatha, a former Marine now living near Naples, Italy, to share her third birth story two months postpartum. She recaps her first two fast births—one at a birth center after a late referral and one unassisted soon after moving to Italy—then explains her approach to a largely non-medicalized third pregnancy focused on self-care, tracking health metrics, exercise, chiropractic care, and intensive study of birth physiology. Labor began late at night around a predicted full supermoon, progressed rapidly with her mantra “feel it, don’t fear it,” and culminated in an unassisted bathroom birth where she caught her baby herself, with her husband and mother arriving moments before. She describes an unhurried postpartum, improved recovery, starting elimination communication from birth, and encourages families to “be students of birth” to replace fear with knowledge and better advocate for themselves.

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In this episode of 'Military Birth Talk,' Anni interviews Major Ashley Owen Cunningham, an active-duty Air Force JAG, about her experiences with pregnancy and childbirth while serving in the military. Ashley shares her journey from struggling with infertility to eventually becoming a mother of two boys. She details how she managed her pregnancies and complex births, supported by the military healthcare system, amidst frequent relocations and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashley emphasizes the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and advocating for oneself in a demanding career. The conversation also explores broader themes of gender dynamics in the military and the significance of supporting women through policies like caregiver leave.

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In this episode of 'Military Birth Talk,' Anni reconnects with Klarissa, an active duty Air Force member, who shares her journey of motherhood since her last appearance on the podcast. Klarissa talks about her traumatic birth experience in England and the subsequent support she received from her leadership and community. She reflects on her role as a First Sergeant and how becoming a mother has made her more empathetic and effective in her job. Klarissa discusses the importance of community support, especially overseas, and how experienced parents helped guide her through early motherhood challenges. She also addresses the misconceptions about women in the military being a mission risk and emphasizes the importance of open communication and mutual support within military families. Klarissa encourages new mothers to educate themselves, take care of their well-being, and find personal joy outside of parenting.

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In this episode of 'Military Birth Talk,' Anni interviews Jenna, a military spouse, who shares her diverse birthing experiences within the context of military life. Jenna details her journey from hospital births to home births across various states, and through multiple PCS cycles. She discusses challenges including miscarriage, anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocating for desired birthing experiences despite potential opposition from family. The episode highlights the evolving support from military leadership, particularly regarding paternity leave and doula reimbursements, and emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and community support in navigating birth and postpartum within the military.

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In this episode of 'Military Birth Talk,' Anni interviews Allegra, a dietician, lactation consultant, and military spouse . Allegra shares her experiences of navigating pregnancies and births within the military healthcare system, highlighting the differences between military and civilian care, and emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy. She describes her journey with her second child's birth in a military hospital, and then her subsequent twin birth directly in the military healthcare facility, highlighting both positive and challenging experiences. She also touches on her work as a lactation consultant and how the virtual shift during COVID-19 allowed her to continue supporting mothers globally. 

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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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In this episode of the podcast, Adriana shares her experiences as a mother and active-duty service member. She details her eight years of active service and transition to the reserves, while also parenting three young children and coping with her husband’s deployments. Adriana discusses the challenges she faced during each of her pregnancies, including dealing with unexpected complications and the support she received from her community. She also talks about her transition from active duty to being a stay-at-home mom, the emotional impact of leaving the military, and pursuing a master’s degree amidst the chaos. Adriana emphasizes the importance of having a support system, especially for women in the military who are balancing career and family life.

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Facebook: Military Birth Resource Network & Postpartum Coalition

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