Women Veterans deserve and expect high-quality health care to address their needs, and in some cases their needs include deciding when motherhood is right for them. Whether women Veterans are looking to start a family or to prevent pregnancy, VA can help.
Many women Veterans have complex medical needs that need attention during pregnancy. Maternity care coordinators understand these needs and help women Veterans navigate health care services inside and outside of VA throughout pregnancy to ensure timely and continuous care.
Additional services covered under the maternity care benefit include: newborn care for up to seven days, lactation services and products (consultation services, breast pumps and supplies), nursing bras, postpartum screenings and support groups. Maternity care coordinators are available at every VA medical center.
The number of women Veterans seeking pregnancy care is likely to rise. VA encourages women Veterans to speak with their provider or contact the Women Veterans Call Center to find their nearest Maternity Care Coordinator. The Women Veterans Call Center is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET by calling 1-855-829-6636 or chat online at www.womenshealth.va.gov
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Agree with this being a fluff piece. My care at the Chicago VA was inadequate and had to try to navigate my pregnancy alone. I was told at 9 weeks I had miscarried because no heart beat was detected. At 25 weeks I was placed on a voucher system by the VA to find a doctor closer to my home because I was more than 45 minutes away. The VA would basically reimburse a clinic to provide care closer to my home. I was left to try to explain this voucher system on my own to doctors. I was denied by multiple clinics because hearing the word voucher they assumed I was a welfare recipient. On top of that the VA didn’t transfer all of my paperwork so when my son was born the doctor annonated that mother didn’t seek treatment until halfway through pregnancy. Overall exhausting, emotional and miserable experience seeking care through the VA. I had another child a couple years later through my husbands insurance and the experience was much more simplified.
Yes I agree I am a veteran as well as working at a VA hospital. I’m currently going to fertility on civilian side and I work there and am just finding out about this as well. A lot of the times it’s all in who you know and how much they will be forthcoming to tell informative information. I’m not much of a fan for some people’s ignorance in our leaders but if they actually knew what was going on in VA health care facilities they would shut them all down. I was even assaulted by a fellow employee, “put in a choke hold.” Director never came and spoke to me being the victim. He said oh that was only horse play. Needless to say I’m infuriated. It’s heightened my PTSD and made my MST through the roof. Nothing is ever going to change in the VA systems. I’ve even hear that there are people collecting VA disability at the highest level and have never served a day in their life and if we find those we are told NOT to report it. So on average amount that is and yes it’s tax free UNCLAIMABLE money costing the tax payer an average of $42,000.00 YES 42k per person per year and they’ve never put on a uniform or ever sworn in. This isn’t even the half of it. Only if you all really knew.
I’m a combat veteran that specializes in genetics for Reproductive Health. We would love to assist veterans get the help they need. Struggling to obtain health care needs through the VA is challenging. We’d like to change that. Please contact me.
Best Regards,
Doc Brooks
I am 32 weeks pregnant and I was never told about a Maternity Care Coordinator. I have had zero help throughout my pregnancy and I think the VA could do a lot better. This is a nice puff piece but unfortunately, the truth is not told in this article.
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