When Dad is Deployed

Expectant mothers face additional challenges when the father is deployed . This page provides information to assist with this some of these challenges

Birth Notification

Notifying the deployed father of the birth of his child or other emergencies.

The American Red Cross, Armed Forces Emergency Services provides around the clock, around the world emergency communications. Through this system they can notify a deployed father of the birth of his child as well as any other emergency messages. This service provides service members and their commanders with reliable information so they may make informed decisions.

How do Service Members or Families Contact the Red Cross?

For the birth of a child, the mother or support person must contact the ARC soon after the birth. The medical staff does not do this. While in Naval Medical Center Portsmouth she can call the NMCP Red Cross office at 953-5435 Monday-Friday from 0800-1630. The office is located on the fourth floor of Building 3 (all OB services are in building 2). She can also call the toll free number 1-877-272-7337 which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For other emergencies you can use this or the contact information below.

Southeastern Virginia Chapter , (serves Chesapeake , Norfolk , Portsmouth , & Virginia Beach )
www.seva-redcross.org
Naval Station Norfolk Office, 440-1111
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Office, 953-5435

Hampton Roads Chapter (serves Hampton , Newport News , & Isle of Wight County )
www.hrredcross.org
858-7320

Suffolk Chapter
http://www.suffolkredcross.org
539-6645

Toll-free number 1-877-272-7337 (if unsure of the local contact number)

What Information is Needed ?

The person contacting the Red Cross should have the following basic information:

• Full Name, Rank/Rate, Social Security number and military service address of the service member.
• Nature of the emergency
• Name of the person who is ill, etc. and relationship to the service member
• Name of the hospital, funeral home, or verifying source and contact telephone numbers if available
• Name, phone number, and relationship of person in the city where the emergency occurred. This person should be able to provide additional information should it be needed.

How is the Message Processed?

The caller will be connected to an Armed Forces Emergency Services caseworker. Once the request is give to the caseworker, the information must be verified . The caseworker then contacts the Red Cross where the emergency has occurred to obtain verification. Once this is obtained , it is passed back to the Caseworker so that the message can be sent to the service member's military command.

The verified information is provided to the military command. This enables the command and the service member to determine if emergency leave or other action is needed .

Baby Pictures

If the father is deployed , the Navy Medical Center Portsmouth Public Affairs Office will take an electronic picture of your baby and email it to the father. This usually occurs two days after the birth. The Mother-Baby Unit staff will contact PAO but you will need to provide an email address for them.