Founder of Building Military Families Network, Julie Eshelman shares about her ongoing family building journey, one that spans many years and states, highlighting the unique challenges that military families often face. We also hear about Julie’s rise as a leader in the community through her non-profit and advocacy work, and learn how anyone can get involved in the fight for access to fertility care and family building options.

Julie is the Founder, CEO & President of Building Military Families Network, a nonprofit with a mission to provide an empowering and supportive network to military and veteran families navigating the challenges in the family building process through support groups, education, and resources. She uses her infertility and pregnancy loss journey to help the 67% of military-connected families realize they are not alone in struggling to build and grow their families. Julie advocates for insurance coverage and access to care for military-connected families while raising awareness of the unique challenges they face due to the military lifestyle. Julie believes in breaking the chains of shame and embarrassment that these topics carry and instead empowering others to share their journeys and advocate for the next generation. In 2022 she was named AFI Fort Leavenworth Spouse of the Year for her awareness, advocacy, and leadership in infertility and military family building.

Learn more about Building Military Families Network: buildingmilitaryfamiliesnetwork.org

Join the AllPaths and BMFN Building Military Families Support Group: https://allpathsfb.org/support

Learn more about ASRM/RESOLVE Advocacy Day 2025: https://resolve.org/events/advocacy-day/

Read Julie’s memoir-in-progress: https://www.wearethemighty.com/category/infertility-memoir/

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Military families; military spouse; infertility; miscarriage; pregnancy loss; fertility treatment; IVF; Building Military Families Network; ASRM; RESOLVE; advocacy; insurance coverage; veterans

CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

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