Military spouses/mamas??
Military spouses/mamas??
I’m a ftm as I’m 13 weeks pregnant and my husband is in the Navy. We’re currently living in Italy on shore duty but would like to have a second child at our next duty station in which he will have to go on deployments for months...I’ve just become so attached to my husband and the fact that we’re finally able to live together after 4 years of long distance that I’m worried about doing it all over again when he has to deploy, especially when we have children. Was just wondering if anyone can share with me their experience in being pregnant while your husband is away on deployment and if you’ve given birth while your husband was still deployed. What was it like, how did you feel, was it difficult to not have your husband there for most of the pregnancy and/or child birth, how did your husband feel?
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I was 7 mo pregnant when my husband left for his (first) deployment. Thankfully I had the support of my family. I had all of the females of my family with me in the delivery room. The doctor let me cut the cord. We had Red Cross notify the ship that I was in labor. I sent hubby emails with lots of pictures. Baby was 4mo when he got to meet daddy for the first time then daddy had to turn around and do another 6mo deployment. I opted to stay home this time and have it be just little man and me. Honestly, you just learn to do everything yourself. It’s all you know. You become self sufficient. From the minute you hold that baby in your arms it’s only you. Don’t underestimate your strength. Your hubby will feel like he is missing out but emotionally he will be okay. He switches off when he’s on deployment. Mine did. He never really got all the feels until he was finally home —a month shy of our baby’s first birthday. He had to learn to be a dad when I was already a pro. It was hard sometimes. He didn’t know where he could fit in and help out. But you’ll be alright. It’s been 5 years and he’s got the hang of it now ?
PS. We are about to move and go back on deployments too. Not gonna lie I’m not looking forward to it but I will say this. Find your community of support. Get to know your navy wives. They are your godsend when one kid is sick and you need to rush to the ER. They have your back day and night. Find your people. They will make deployment bearable.