Ultimate List of Resources for Pregnant MILSOs

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Congratulations! You are having a baby! Having a baby can be an exciting thing! However, there can be a lot of unknown that comes with it. The great news is that there are tons of supports out there to help through basically everything. Maybe you’re going through this pregnancy on your own while your spouse is deployed. Or you’re a service member and a mom-to-be. Or maybe you need a little financial help (or something else!). No matter the situation, there are some great resources for you! Being a pregnant MILSO does not have to be stressful!

Since having 4 babies myself while my husband has been active duty, I consider myself an expert in this area. So I’ve collected the best free resources that will help you get off to an awesome start as a new mom.

Baby Showers

1. Operation Homefront’s Star-Spangled Babies Program—Operation Homefront is a huge supporter of growing military families hosting Star-Spangled Baby Showers at many US locations. This program is designed to support deployed service members, wounded service members, and other service members and their families. The event typically features a luncheon, giveaways and raffles, vendor tables, and goodie baskets or bags.
2. USO Baby Showers—The USO is an amazing organization dedicated to serving our military members, veterans, and their families. With many USO locations in the United States and abroad, the availability of this program is astonishing! The goal of this baby shower is not only to shower you with lunch, gifts, and goodies. It’s also to connect you with other families welcoming a new little one into their arms soon.
3. Operation Showers – Operation Shower’s mission is to ease the stress of deployment by hosting joyful baby showers for military families across the country. Their baby showers provide pregnant MILSOs and their families with high quality products for their babies. Not only do they host large group showers, but they also can send individual baby boxes to those who can’t make the large showers and meets their critera.
4. Operation Showers of Appreciation-This generous non-profit hosts baby showers, baby care packages, a diaper program, and more for enlisted military members, first responders, veterans, reservists, wounded warriors, and their families.
5. Soldiers’ Angels Baby Brigade is a fun-filled team that provides virtual baby showers for military families. This helps ease the emotional and financial stresses of military life. Due to the difficulty of deployments, Baby Brigade is primarily focused on serving pregnant MILSOs of deployed service members and spouses of deployed service members. Baby Brigade also serves expectant active duty female service members. Their dedicated Team Angels shop for baby items to help the military family prepare for their new bundle of joy. How great is that?!

Supplies and Resources

1. New Parent Support Program: This program provides free services to active duty service members and their families. Qualifies candidates include those expecting their first child or with at least one child under the age of three (Navy, Army, and Air Force) or under the age of five (Marine Corps). The program features parenting basics, resource materials, playgroups, home visiting, and more. You can find out more at your local Family Advocacy Program or Military and Family Support Center.
2. Budget for Baby: For Navy and Marine Corps families, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society hosts the Budget for Baby program. This program shares information about the financial impact a new baby has on the family and how to prepare. You can meet other pregnant MILSOs and their families and get great information! You also receive a Junior Sea Bag with great swag like crib sheets, onesies, and handmade baby blankets.
3. Free Breast Pump—Tricare now provides a hospital grade, electric breast pump to new Tricare-eligible families. All you need is a prescription from your OB/GYN, midwife, physician, or nurse practitioner. You may order online through an authorized provider or purchase on your own and submit the receipt to TRICARE.

Doulas

1. Stars and Stripes Doulas: This agency focuses their expertise on supporting military families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. The agency currently has chapters in Washington DC, Hampton Roads, New Orleans, and Fort Riley, KS. They are expanding and growing frequently and pride themselves in hiring military veterans and spouses just like you! In addition, they have a generous Wounded Warrior/Gold Star Family Fund and participate in Operation Special Delivery.
2. Operation Special Delivery offers discounted doula services to military spouses who meet certain criteria. They are committed to offering discounted labor support services and access to quality labor doula care. 

After Baby Support

1. Not only does TRICARE offer extensive prenatal and postnatal care for expectant mothers, but also free meetings with a breastfeeding counselor. You can choose an inpatient maternity stay, a follow-up outpatient visit, a well-child care visit. In fact, you can get up to six outpatient sessions completely free as a benefit of your healthcare.
2. The Carrying On Project—This is an amazing non-profit service for military moms! This project provides baby carriers to United States military families in need. Who doesn’t need a carrier? You can apply for yourself or nominate someone you know that could benefit from a donated baby carrier.
3. Postpartum Support—If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or another perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, you are not alone. There is hope and there is help. Postpartum Support International’s military program is designed to provide you support and resources during your time of need. The first step is reaching out and once you make that brave decision, the help you’re looking for us waiting.

We hope you enjoy these resources for pregnant MILSOs. If you know of additional resources that military families either locally or at other installations will benefit from during pregnancy or as a new parent, please share!