Pregnancy slows, not ends service to country

  • Published
  • By Capt. (Dr.) TERESA STUMP and Master Sgt. DONNA WALLE
  • 56th Medical Group
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When the plus-sign appears on a home pregnancy test, a woman can be filled with many emotions. For active-duty women, those emotions may include concern over how to combine pregnancy with military service. Knowing the process and support that exists for pregnant servicemembers may help alleviate concerns. 

If pregnancy is suspected, the member can accomplish an official pregnancy test on a walk-in basis by signing in at the computer kiosk located in the Copper Team waiting area in the base clinic. An order will be sent to the clinic laboratory for testing. When a positive test is verified, several things happen. The member will receive referrals to a selected off-base obstetrician, occupational health and nutritional counseling. Prenatal vitamins are also ordered for pick-up from the clinic pharmacy. 

Occupational health will initiate a duty limiting condition based on workplace hazards, deployment restrictions and fitness limitations. DLCs are individualized. A member working in an industrial shop will have different limitations compared to someone with primarily administrative duties. This initial DLC combined with the recommendations from the off-base OB provider will be used to create the final DLC determination. Specific paperwork will be given to the member to facilitate communication between the off-base OB provider and the family medicine provider responsible for making the DLC determination. 

It's worth mentioning that the FMP is the final authority. Recommendations from the off-base OB provider are just that -- recommendations. These recommendations are taken seriously and used to craft the extent of participation the member can provide to her duty section. Unlike the civilian sector with an "all or nothing" mentality, military members are still valuable and vital members of a unit even when duty participation is scaled down. 

Coordination between the member, the off-base OB provider and the FMP is crucial. Safety of the mother and fetus is the primary concern. 

In the event a pregnancy becomes high risk, additional measures can be taken. OB quarters, unlike traditional quarters, can be made for 30-day increments if warranted. 

During OB quarters, the mother and fetus will be monitored closely to determine when and if the OB quarters need to be extended or canceled. Once again, the importance of coordination between the member, the off-base OB provider and the FMP cannot be stressed enough. 

Once delivery of the newest honorary Airman occurs, maternity leave (usually 42 days) is requested using an AF Form 988, Leave Request/Authorization. The filled out AF Form 988 will need to be turned in to the appropriate primary care team member for signature the day after release from the hospital. This can be done by the member's supervisor, first sergeant, or designated friend or family member. Once signed by the provider, AF Form 988 is routed through the appropriate command section. Ultimately, it is the member's commander that grants the maternity leave. 

For more information, go to AFI 41-210, AFI 44-102, AFI 48-123 or call the health care team at (623) 856-CARE (2273).