Maternity (or pregnancy) care includes the medical services related to conception through delivery including: Prenatal care, Post-partum care (generally for six weeks after delivery) and, treatment of any complications.

On April 19, 2022, the Army released Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum). The directive contains 12 components.

This directive will apply to:

• Regular Army (RA)
• Army National Guard (ARNG)
• Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS)
• S. Army Reserve (USAR)

Below are the 12 components that are included in the Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive as well as some of the changes.

• Postpartum Body Composition Exemption
  • The body composition exemption is increased from 180 days to 365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy
• Physical Fitness TestingExemption 
  • Soldiers will be exempt from taking a record physical fitness test while pregnant and for 365 days after pregnancy
• Pregnancy and Postpartum Service Uniform Exemption
  • Soldiers will not be required to wear the Army Service Uniform (ASU) or Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) while pregnant and for 365 days after pregnancy. Soldiers are authorized to wear the maternity and non-maternity permethrin-free Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU) during and after pregnancy while safely returning to optimal fitness and body composition during the postpartum period
  • Child Development Program facilities may be designated as “No-Hat, No-Salute” areas
• Operational and Training Deferments
  • They want to ensure that at least one parent is home with their child so all birth parents (soldiers who physically give birth) are deferred or excused for 365 days after the birth of their child from deployments, mobilizations, field training, and other types of military assignments
• Professional Military Education (PME)
  • A pregnancy profile will not disqualify a soldier from being selected as an honor graduate or commandant list selectee
• Location Accommodations 
  • Commands will need to provide lactation breaks and designated location areas for lactating soldiers
• Fertility Treatments
  • Soldiers will be stabilized from a PCS or a deployment for up to 365 days from their first appointment while receiving fertility treatments
• PregnancyLoss 
  • Convalescent leave after a birth event, miscarriage, or stillbirth. This will apply to the soldier or the spouse of a soldier
• Family Care Plans (FCPs)
  • Soldiers will be given at least three weeks’ notice for duty requirements outside of the normal duty hours as well as for significant changes to the soldier’s normal duty hours
• Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS)
  • Pregnant soldiers will be eligible to apply and compete for ADOS tours despite their medical readiness classification 3 status
• Paid Parental Leave in the Reserve Component
  • Birthparents will be granted 12 paid UTAs (Unit Training Assemblies) within a year after giving birth. They will also be allowed 4 UTAs that will be unpaid but could be rescheduled
• Education of Leaders
  • Pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting training will be incorporated throughout all pre-command courses.

For more detailed information, refer to Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum).