Since I'm pregnant I'm non-deployable until six weeks after my baby's born. My unit is now getting ready to ship out for a deployment in the middle east and I'm stuck back here giving my best friend my deployment spot. When I got the news that I was pregnant I was overwhelmed and confused but I knew from the first second that I wouldn't give this baby up for anything. Now I wish that I wasn't pregnant so that I could get deployed with my unit and my best friend. Does this sound completely insane? I would rather be in the middle east sweating my butt off, working insane hours, eating field chow & risking my life. I almost feel selfish because for the first time in the 23 weeks I've been pregnant I wish that I wasn't having my little girl. Any words of wisdom?

I do not think that it is insane, you joined the army in hopes of defending your contry and know the first time in many years you could and you can not. I think that this is something that you wanted to do for other reasons though. I know that you and your father do not get along well and I know that you feel that you could earn so respect from him knowing that you went to war and came back alive. But trust me you are doing so just a important! I know that you feel hopeless and loey and would love to be there with them but you chose the right path and that is to bring a wonderful baby girl in this world. If a war is were God wanted you than he would have made you available for it. God needs you here!!!! Keep your head up Soldier!!! I am proud that you repersent this country!!! God bless you and America

I was in your shoes once. Wanting to deploy but I was pregnant. Now my son is 2 1/2 years old and I have missed out on the last 9 months of his life because I deployed to Iraq. And now I am leaving him after only having him back for 4 months for school. I felt the same as you did but I don't anymore. Be thankful for you being pregnant and giving the gift of life. A lot of females want that and can't get that. Believe me you will get your chance to deploy and when it comes--you might not want it. You take care of yourself and your baby right now. And savour all the time that you have with your child. For you cannot get back what time has taken away

I can in some sense know what you are feeling. I did deploy to Iraq, and left my kids with friends for the summer. Now that I am back, and know how many people are still there, people that I spent time with are still there, it makes me think that at times I wish I was still there. I then think about all that I missed while I was gone, how the men and women that are there feel, they want to be home with their families, and are not. I look at my children's faces, and can see how happy they are that I am home. It was hard on them, it was not my first time away from them, and will not be the last. Cherish the time that you have now, support your unit from the homefront, let them know you care about them, and are with them. I am sure they will be able to enjoy in the celebration of your new little one when they return. You daughter will be there forever, she will bring you joy when the Army brings you down, do not do something to destroy that now.