10. Rebecca's Air Force Birth Stories: Two MTF Cesareans, and Prenatal Down Syndrome Diagnosis, EFMP, and Advocacy

In today’s episode, we’ll be hearing from Rebecca who was Active Duty in the Air Force when she gave birth to her two sons. Her first was born at a military treatment facility  via cesarean after 2 days of labor (3:16). During her second pregnancy (11:34) Rebecca and her husband learned that their child had Down Syndrome, and she discusses the experience of navigating her and her child’s healthcare through the diagnosis, while also executing PCS orders. She discusses the choices they had around birth location due to his diagnosis, the support that was and was not available to them after the birth, and the way that being a dual-military family impacted the choices they made for his care. Rebecca now works as Associate Director for the nonprofit Exceptional Families of the Military, and she sheds light on some important nuances of the EFMP program that so many families in the military depend on for services. Here’s my conversation with Rebecca. ---Exceptional Families of the Military (EFM)  is a volunteer-led, 501c(3) non-profit organization specializing in helping DoD families enrolled in DoD's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). We are EFMP families ourselves and have multiple online support groups with about 11,000 EFMP family members DoD-wide.    We provide direct support, support groups, and also work on legislative and policy priorities on behalf of our families. We are part of the Tricare for Kids Coalition and the EFMP coalition, the largest group representing EFMP families. Website: http://www.ExceptionalMilitaryFam.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExceptionalFamiliesMilitaryLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-families-of-the-militaryInstagram: @EFMVoiceTwitter: @EFMVoice Youtube: EFMVoicesPress Kit: EFM Press RoomOther Resources:Tricare Prime Travel: https://tricare.mil/primetravelDSDN Military Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2207125775996497Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network: https://www.dsdiagnosisnetwork.org/Follow along with Military Birth Talk:Instagram: @militarybirthtalkFacebook: Military Birth Resource Network & Postpartum CoalitionSubmit your birth story!forms.gle/3TT7FyV1QQV3RZGc8