Perinatal Veterans Socials foster community at Orlando VA

At Orlando VA, women Veterans meet regularly for “Perinatal Veterans Socials” to share their experiences, challenges and triumphs in navigating pregnancy and motherhood while transitioning from military life. These socials foster a sense of belonging, offering attendees a space to connect, support each other and access vital resources through VA perinatal services.

Perinatal services are specialized to focus on the health of women or birthing people and their babies before, during and after birth.

Parenthood strengthens Veteran bonds

PREPARe is a multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of perinatal Veterans. It was developed due to a lack of comprehensive and easily accessible perinatal services available to Veterans. The innovation is a wraparound approach where services typically offered in the community are now offered by trained VA specialists. These services include whole health, mental health, nutrition, physical therapy, women’s health, chaplain care and more.

Melissa Tran, a 2023 VHA Innovation Ecosystem fellow, organized a Perinatal Veterans Social with an understanding of the importance of social connection and a desire to provide space for community among new parents.

Lureida Soto and Regina Adamson are two of Tran’s Veteran patients who joined the first social. Adamson, an Army Veteran who faced difficulties with postpartum mental health, described her experience of feeling lost before connecting with perinatal services. “Melissa is creating our village, making sure our village is not forgotten. She’s connected me with women who understand me on a deeper level, emotionally and mentally,” said Adamson.

“Nothing is as therapeutic as having community.”

Soto, a Coast Guard Veteran, echoed the importance of this community. After a complicated pregnancy with twins, which included severe nausea and a need for iron infusions during her third trimester, she experienced postpartum depression.

Her VA care team made her aware of the mental health services available. “These services have helped me access resources that have improved my mental health. I needed adult interactions. I joined this group because being a mother is co-occupational. Nothing is as therapeutic as having community,” said Soto.

For many Veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life can be isolating, and this isolation is often compounded when becoming a mother. Adamson spoke to this challenge and how these layers of identity can leave them feeling forgotten. “Being a pregnant woman, mom, Veteran are more things that put us further in the shadows. These Veterans socials allow us to be in a group where everyone knows how you feel. They were going through it with me,” said Adamson.

This sense of shared experience was a common theme among the women. Adamson noted that after the pandemic, social connections for Veterans dwindled, leaving many to navigate motherhood alone. “We lost much of our community when we left the military. Being a mother can be even more isolating. We can’t take care of our babies if we can’t take care of ourselves,” she added.

For Soto, attending the Perinatal Veterans Social marked a turning point. “I didn’t think I had the time and I didn’t want to go. Post-partum has become so consuming that anything that seemed to be for me felt impossible.”

However, the support she received through PREPARe combined with the support she found at the Perinatal Veterans Socials, allowed her to feel healthier than she had in a while.

“I don’t feel like I’m alone.”

“Occupational imbalance was defining my life, but now with this group I feel like I have an army behind me, supporting me in one of the hardest moments of my life. It means the world to me. I don’t feel like I’m alone and I have a reason to fight for my kids,” said Soto.

She said the women who attended the event have formed a group chat where they regularly check in on each other. They are even planning a trip to the zoo together determined to strengthen their bond.

Perinatal Veterans Socials were born out of a collaboration between Tran and Dr. Jay Gorman, 2024 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellow. In 2021, Tran, a Reproductive Health program manager at Orlando VA , founded PREPARe (Perinatal Reproductive Education Planning and Resources) to better support Veterans on their reproductive health journeys.

The concept of Veterans Socials was born out of the VA Bedford Healthcare System and has been developed and spread nation-wide by Dr. Gorman. Veterans Socials have now reached over 100 locations spanning 24 states.

In August, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents. The advisory report calls to attention alarming statistics on high stress levels among parents, the impact on children, and the greater need for support.

Learn more

Perinatal Veterans Socials are but one of the examples of Veterans Socials that are organized across the country to connect Veterans and foster community. If you are interested in starting your own Veterans Social, explore our resources, such as the quick start guide.