US researchers have documented what they believe is the first recorded case of a transgender woman breastfeeding.

 

This landmark research from the Transgender Health journal is excellent news for other transgender women who hope to breastfeed their children.

 

The 30-year-old patient decided to breastfeed because her expectant partner did not want to do so.

 

The woman approached doctors asking that they help her breastfeed. She had been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for six years, but not undergone gender reassignment surgery.

 

 

Three-and-a-half months before the baby was born, the woman was put on a regimen of drugs, like those given to mums who adopt children or have them via surrogates.

 

Her treatment included taking a drug that stimulates milk production, hormones produced by biological mums, and a male hormone blocker. As well, she engaged in breast pumping.

 

The 30-year-old ended up making 8oz of breast milk today, which the team classified as a 'modest but functional' amount.

 

The baby was breastfed for six weeks after birth, and the infant's paediatrician reported that the child's 'growth, feeding, and bowel habits were developmentally appropriate'.

 

 

The parents started supplementing with formula milk because the breastfeeding mum was not producing enough milk.

 

The child, who is now six months old, is still being breastfed as a part of their feeding routine.

 

"This case illustrates that, in some circumstances, modest but functional lactation can be induced in transgender women," the researchers noted.

 

They hope to further investigate to determine the optimal treatment for transgender women who want to breastfeed.

 

What do you think of this groundbreaking case, mums?

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