82. Dual Mil Navy Sailor Allison Shares MTF and Home Birth Stories

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. Follow along with Military Birth Talk:Instagram: @militarybirthtalkFacebook: Military Birth Resource Network & Postpartum CoalitionSubmit your birth story!forms.gle/3TT7FyV1QQV3RZGc8