The scientific journal New Scientist has just published the news of a transgender mother from the United States who has managed to exclusively breastfeed her baby for six weeks, becoming the first transsexual woman to achieve something like that.
The pioneering and experimental treatment he has undergone has lasted three and a half months, and although it seems to have given results, at the moment doctors will not be able to apply it to other transgender women until carefully analyzing the milk produced by this woman.
What has the treatment been?
According to the article published in New Scientist, this 30-year-old transsexual woman has followed an experimental treatment that has led her to produce 227 grams of milk a day, becoming the first registered transgender woman who has managed to breastfeed her baby.
"Many transgender women want to live the same experiences as other women and without a doubt this case is a great advance for them" - emphasizes Dr. Joshua Safer of the Boston Medical Center
The first treatment this woman received for several years consisted of female hormones that allowed her to develop breasts of completely normal appearance, without resorting to any surgery.
When her partner was five and a half months pregnant she decided that she would not breastfeed her baby, so it was the transgender woman who decided to assume that role and for that he sought help at the Mount Sinai Transgender Medicine and Surgery Center in New York City.
There they explained that prolactin, the hormone responsible for breastfeeding, could not be manufactured artificially in a laboratory so after analyzing their specific case, the doctors decided to schedule a treatment against nausea based on Domperidone that combined with other factors It would help trigger the production of milk.
This mediation, together with the administration of hestrogen, progesterone and spironolactone hormones, and a daily stimulation with a breast pump, made the first drops begin to appear in a little over a month.
When the couple's baby was born, the woman was able to breastfeed exclusively for six weeks and subsequently relied on formula milk to complete breastfeeding.The doctors who have treated this woman believe that your case could serve as an example when proceeding with other transgender women, and even helping adoptive mothers who wish to breastfeed.
In addition, the professionals who have carried out this experimental treatment are convinced that once the breasts were developed it would be sufficient to correct stimulation, without the need to resort to medications or hormones.
"When we treat transgender women, we see good breast development and this is reason enough for them to produce milk in the same way that non-transgender women do. In this case, it is not clear to what extent the medication helped and hormones, but we believe that breast stimulation alone could be enough "- say doctors.
Your milk, for examination
There is no doubt that breastfeeding is the best thing for the baby, and together we must promote it, support it and help nursing mothers on their way.
This case has surprised me especially by the tenacity and strength of this woman who, despite the initial difficulties that could exist (and I even think that he will also have encountered opposition from his surroundings or negative comments), he wanted to fight to get his baby to breastfeed.
However, and as the article explains, the quality of the milk that has been produced has not yet been evaluated, so it is unknown if it has the same combination of components as the milk produced naturally by the mothers after giving birth .We have seen for some time that on some very exceptional occasion men can also produce milk and even breastfeed babies. And while there are studies that ensure that the composition of the milk produced by the man is similar to that of the womanIt is unknown if it is altered in cases where pathological causes are involved.
In this specific case, this transgender woman has gone through a chemical process that has allowed her breast development and subsequent milk production. And although medical professionals do not deny potential benefits of breastfeedingThey insist that the case should be studied carefully before recommending it to other women in the same situation, since The long-term impact that milk has had on the baby is unknown.
What is certain is that during six weeks of exclusive breastfeeding That this baby had, the pediatrician found that he was growing well and developing in a healthy way.
A few months ago, Armando told us a story that had caused a similar stir. This time it was a transgender father who had decided to breastfeed his baby, and despite having undergone chest surgery for a long time to remove his breasts, he managed to feed his son with his own milk.
Personally, I am left with the effort, dedication and love that this woman has shown towards her son. Since he was clear that he wanted to breastfeed he sought professional support and doctors specialized in it. And if it is finally proven that your milk has the same combination of components as that of any other recent mother, there is no doubt that your case will be a breakthrough for similar ones.
IStock photos
Via New Scientist
In Babies and More Can man produce human milk ?, Breast pumps, Breastfeeding an adopted baby if possible, A pediatrician answers all your questions about breastfeeding, Breastfeeding, the best for your baby, Father's story transgender who decided to breastfeed her babies
