Welcome back to the Veteran Spouse Network Podcast! In this heartfelt solo episode, host Hannah O’Brien, veteran spouse and program manager for the Veteran Spouse Network, opens up about her deeply personal journey through fertility, pregnancy, and the decision to grow a family while navigating life in a military and veteran household.
🔍 In This Episode:
- Hannah’s return from maternity leave and becoming a mom of two
- The emotional, physical, and societal realities of pregnancy and motherhood
- How military life and her husband’s PTSD impacted their family planning decisions
- Honest reflections on fertility struggles and the emotional toll of trying to conceive
- Navigating morning sickness, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy's emotional ups and downs
- The power of communication, self-advocacy, and having a strong support system
- Unique challenges faced by military and veteran families during pregnancy
- A call to break the silence around fertility, women’s health, and postpartum experiences
💡 Key Takeaways:
- Every path to motherhood is different — and it’s okay to talk about the hard parts
- Military life adds unique layers to family planning decisions
- Support, communication, and self-advocacy are essential
- Listening and showing up for the women in our lives matters
📌 Resources & Links:
- Learn more and access support: VeteranSpouseNetwork.org
- Stay tuned for Part 2, where Hannah dives into her childbirth and postpartum journey
🎧 Thank you for tuning in!
This episode is brought to you by the Veteran Spouse Network, in collaboration with Coming Home Well.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help other veteran and military-connected families feel seen, heard, and supported.
Veteran Spouse Network
Life behind the uniform isn’t always easy, and military and veteran families know this better than anyone. The Veteran Spouse Network Podcast brings real, honest conversations to the forefront, covering the challenges, stories, and victories unique to military and veteran families.
Each episode features spouses, partners, family members, experts, and providers sharing insights on everything from deployment stress and mental health struggles to navigating resources and relationship dynamics.
Whether you’re a military spouse, veteran family member, or just want to understand the true experience, this podcast offers a supportive space to connect, learn, and know you’re not alone.
Tune in and join the community that stands with you through every step of the journey.
Hannah O’Brien is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work Masters program. A native of Austin, Texas, she knew she needed to spread her wings in college, traveling all the way to the east coast to attend American University in Washington, D.C. where she received her Bachelors in Law and Society. After earning her undergraduate degree, she held several positions that included working with children in schools, supporting offenders during reentry after incarceration, offering employment guidance for low-income adults, and helping support adult literacy. Hannah then began her Masters of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas, where she completed the Administration and Policy Practice concentration, planning for a career in non-profit management.
While pursuing her degree, she fell in love with, and ultimately married a Marine Corps veteran and began immersing herself in the unique culture of the military. It wasn’t long before she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the service of veteran spouses and families. Hannah has served as the Program Manager for the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) since 2017, helping create, implement, and evaluate peer support programs for veteran spouses and families to ensure they receive the support they deserve. In addition to her role within the VSN, Hannah has had the opportunity to coordinate marriage enrichment and PTSD treatment groups for veteran couples, as well as assist in a multitude of different research projects aimed at supporting military and veteran families.