Head hurting trying to digest all that? Mine too. To catch up on this story, you can read this and this.
The man who is still biologically a woman, Thomas Beatie, gave birth vaginally after a 40 hour labour. The baby’s mother (who didn’t give birth to him because she has no uterus after having a hysterectomy) is 46 years old and has two adult children. Through a process called "induced lactation", she’s the one who is breastfeeding the baby.
At least they called their daughter something normal (Susan) and really? Good luck to them all. I always figure that when people try this hard to have a child and swim so hard against the tide of medicine and public opinion, they’re going to make better parents than…..say….. the parents of Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii for example.
After the jump, lots of details and a video.
According to Celebrity Baby Blog:
Having welcomed daughter Susan Juliette on June 29th, Thomas Beatie — known as the Pregnant Man — and his wife Nancy introduce their bundle of joy in the latest issue of PEOPLE.
Weighing in at 9 lbs, 5 oz when she arrived at 8:55 p.m., Susan was the
product of 40 hours of hard labor, Thomas explained. "[Nancy] wanted to
take the pain away. She held my hand, she fed me ice chips, she brought
jelly beans from home, she practically crawled into bed with me." After
many hours, Thomas’ midwife announced that it was time to push.When
Susan finally came out, it was like in slow motion. I was full of
wonder. She’s so precious, I just can’t stop staring at her. Just
holding her is the best feeling in the world. We’re finally the family
we’ve been dreaming of.Named
for Thomas’ late mother Susan, carrying Nancy’s middle name of
Juliette, and conceived through artificial insemination with donor
sperm, 3-week-old Susan is unaware of her status as the child given
birth to by a transgender male. Calling his blue-eyed daughter
"easygoing, mellow, and intelligent," Thomas, 34, sounds like any new
mother assessing their post-baby body — except he’s the father!I weigh two pounds less than I did before I got pregnant. And I don’t have a single stretch mark!
Settling
into their Bend, Oregon home with their "miracle" Susan, Thomas and
Nancy, 45, are learning to care for their infant. After raising two
daughters from a previous marriage, Nancy has found herself nursing
again, through the process of induced lactation. Practiced occasionally
by adoptive moms and others who have lost their milk, hormones and
physical stimulation with a pump can be used to start a supply.[Even before I started taking the pills,] my brain was sending messages to my body, saying, ‘Get ready, you’re breast-feeding!’
Now
that Susan is here, Nancy reveals she’s grown three cup sizes and is
off the hormones — "It’s just me and the baby." With that, Susan
starts crying and Thomas brings her over, saying, "Nancy, she’s still
hungry! I’m just like any typical father — all I can do is walk around
and rock her!"As for the unusual circumstances surrounding her birth, Thomas says,
"We know prejudice is out there, but how can anyone judge this
beautiful little baby?" He explains that Susan will know everything,
always.We’ll opt for full-disclosure. It’s not going to be some big shock. She’s going to know.
Comments
24 Comments so far
Have a baby by me, baby be a millionaire.
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Ok, not denying for one second that the situation isn’t abnormal. Cause it is. Very much so. And there’s a chance Susan will be screwed up because of it.
However, it’s just as likely she’ll grow up being a very accepting, non-screwed up person. People keep talking about kids being mean, but the kids she’ll associate with won’t be old enough to remember all the kafuffle that’s being made at the moment, so they may not even know. Cause to them, it will look like Susan has a mother and a father, just like everyone else. Really, the only way they could know is courtesy of parents. And there will be plenty of parents who couldn’t care less, or just won’t know (they do exist, I live with 3 people who didn’t know anything about it until I mentioned it), and therefore won’t have a problem with it.
By the time the kids are old enough to understand that there’s something a little left of center going on, assuming they find out, they’ll probably be too old to care, and the ones who are friends with Susan go on being friends with her, since it’s nothing that she can help.
I really don’t think people give kids enough credit, anyway. They’re usually pretty accepting of a lot of stuff when they’re little, because they’ve got pretty vivid imaginations, and as a result, most things seem plausable, and anything that doesn’t seem plausible must have been made up anyway.
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accepting! no,they will act like they accept, but deep down inside they are balling it all up inside, and when they get older they will be bullied/or bully people,or seriosly depressed or suisidal. So
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JLo, I agree. My husband and I know people who we often wonder why they had children. Their sole input into their childrens lives is paying the nanny, the weekend nanny and submitting private school applications.
But we’re not talking about them, we’re talking about poor little Susan who was born into a very weird screwed up family.
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Cath, a fine old hornet’s nest we have here. Crossfire between us, and over in the other trench, Lu and Cerry sniping away. Excellent!
I agree with you on the homosexuality vs transgender delineation. Homosexuality wasn’t in my sights with my previous comments. My meandering waffle above didn’t make that clear. I started out OK, but really ran off the rails after a bit. Must have been that 2nd Bex powder, it couldn’t have been the bottle of red, could it?
Anyway, back to the nest of hornets. The gender reassignment, or partial thereof, and then the reversal or whatever it was to enable childbirth strikes me as odd, very very odd. BTW, if he/she just had a baby, just how much of a man is he? Is he more man or more woman?
Obviously he is not a man in all senses of the word, as we in the rest of the world understand. He had a baby for crying out loud! He obviously isn’t the biological father either, being unable to produce sperm. Not just fertile sperm, any sperm. So ‘he’ has had a masectomy, takes male hormones, is able to have a baby, can’t produce sperm, and regards himself as a man. Deluded! The ‘man’ is really a woman with surgically removed breasts, and a testosterone prescription!
No matter how I rationalise that, it still sounds ludicrous. Or perhaps in the Brave New World, gender reassignment, taking hormones to pretend you’re the opposite sex, giving birth in any way whatsoever, just so you can have a baby may be, well, pedestrian.
Lu, if they moved next door to me, I’d probably find out they’re really nice people, with a well-adjusted daughter. And I’d treat them like the nice people they are. So I guess it’s the assertion of normality I’m questioning, not the individuals involved being afforded the same respect extended to other people in the community.
However, I will defend our right to question and examine extremes of human behaviour.
And now, like Cath, I will stop wasting valuable kilobytes of cyberspace ‘which will probably be required for Frockwatch’. (Well put, Cath)
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Cath, I am so glad you added your post re: the differnce between gay and transgender people. I cant imagine how difficult it would be to feel like you have been born into the wrong body, as many transgendered people experience. Why shouldn’t these people get a chance to have a happy and loving family like other people do?
And lu, i know heaps of ‘straight’ couples who have brought kids into the world for their own selfish reasons, particularly older, middle class/wealthy couples who want to add a child into their packaged lifestyle – one more ‘thing’ they wanted at the time, often wiping their hands of them when they reach adolescence and dont fit their yuppie image, expecting ‘others to accept the crazy world’ that is their lives.
Cath, Im wearing the New Black with you and would be happy for Susan to come on over for a play date to my house.
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Cerry, yes I am putting my hand up and saying I that I am being mean. And at the same time thankful that my children are never likely to meet Susan.
While we can go along with the cheesey love-in sentiments about how wonderful it is and how we should all love each other blah blah blah, the harsh reality is Susans parents were completely selfish. They really couldnt give a hoot about what sort of life this poor kid will live or the crap she’ll have to put up with. They popped out their baby and they’re thrilled. They got what they wanted. End of story. They now wash their hands of it and its up to others to accept the crazy world that is her life.
Why should helping her belong be a priority for others when it clearly wasnt even on the radar for her parents ?
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Hmmm… you want more, don’t you? Ok. Well it does strike me as a little strange that someone as ‘gay friendly’as yourself, maintains that most people should admit that a lesbian couple is ‘weird’. I can’t agree. I have a sister who is gay, with a very nice partner, who (coincidentally!) also happens to be gay. I also have a gay brother, and a straight sister. You probably think family gatherings are much like an episode of ‘Brothers and Sisters’, but alas, having gay siblings is terribly pedestrian these days, and family gatherings are just family gatherings.
At the risk of banging on about this for days, taking up valuable cyberspace (which will probably be required for Frockwatch, or similar), I will just point this one thing out. Being gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and identifying as ‘transgender’ are two entirely different things, the broad definition of transgender being : ‘a person appearing as, or wishing to be considered as, or having undergone surgery to become a member of the opposite sex’. Homosexuality is where people are attracted to members of the same sex. Transgendered people, for the most part, are apparently generally attracted to members of the opposite sex.
I guess if it were as easy as ‘getting over it’, those who struggle with their gender identity would do just that, because to change their life in order to be truly happy is hardly an easy road.
We’ll have to agree to differ on this one. ‘Whatever makes you happy’ is the New Black for me, and I’d like to see more people wearing it. At the same time, once again, everyone’s entitled to their respective opinions, and it’s nice to have some spirited debate.
This has all made me feel quite deep. I’m off to check out some reality tv or something, and won’t stop watching until I feel good and shallow, and quite empty in the head! Have a good weekend!
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Lu, even though I think I get where you’re coming from, I can’t help thinking what you’re saying is a little hypocritical.
“They obviously love her to bits, but kids need more. They need to belong. In reality she has to grow up in a harsh world that judges. And kids (and their parents) can be mean.”
And yet you wouldn’t be happy if one of your kids befriended Susan? Isn’t that kind of like saying “Kids need to belong, but it’s not my job, or my kids’ job to make sure that other people’s kids feel like they belong”, making you one of the mean parents you talked about?
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And they called her Susan! How absoluately “normal” is that!? So normal – or is that old fashioned? – in fact, I can’t remember the last time I heard a bub given such a normal name…. I for one wish little Susan a wonderful life, hopefully without too much small-minded prejudice.
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Gigdiary, glad we see eye to eye on this one!
I wouldnt be happy if one of my kids befriended this poor Susan. And thats what you have to think about when you have a child. It might be OK in their mind to have done what they have done by having Susan. They obviously love her to bits, but kids need more. They need to belong. In reality she has to grow up in a harsh world that judges. And kids (and their parents) can be mean.
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clarifying reason for singledom…
I deserve not the woman
nor she the infliction
of me
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Cath wrote: “I don’t think you’d feel all glowing and happy for two male or two female parents”
Hi Cath,
This couldn’t be further from the truth. I am a totally gay friendly bloke, which is a worry to some of my friends, and my father. It’s the 10% that’s OK, the cutting bits off and putting them on is what I think is wacko and weirdo.
For the Catholics its against the will of God
for the spiritual gigdairy, it’s still wacko and weirdo
but as a spiritual person, there is of course, room for understanding,
yet it’s still wacko and weirdo…….
may I say, get over it,
God or genetics gave you a body,
enjoy it, live in it,
cock or tits is peripheral
people matter
not mindless chatter about
gender crimes
I feel feminine sometimes, too many women
I”ve known are stronger than guys
I choose to be single
not gay, just not married and tarried
I deserve not the woman
nor she need the infliction
of me
and that is why I am happy
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Oh, Cath, absolutely gorgeous, finally someone on the Mia blog who can give as good as is given. (Data, you and the other older blog girls have already put me in my place on many occasions, I treasure you all.)
Being of a scales persona, I was really just chucking items and issues up for debate, though I do regard this couple as ‘freakish’. Which is not to deny them a child, or a life, just that it’s my right to label them ‘odd’.
Whilst not being a Papal ‘Sanctity of the Cross’ believer, I guess I have a ‘humanitarian’ belief with regard to us, all of us. You have to admit that that couple of lesbians or whatever are weird.
But, I acknowledge that they’re not sick, perverted or wacko. They’re loving and wanting of a normal lifestyle. However, get a grip, folks, if you cut your bits off, or add bits (tits) that you didn’t have, it reeks of weird and wacko. And then have a child, well, yes, I see the joy, it is a wonderful thing. Just weird and wacko.
Oh. Lu, where are you when I need you, when is the Brady Bunch on next….
Tell me more Cath…….
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Well, thanks for your well-crafted response, and I see where you’re coming from. I know color and race aren’t a part of this specific debate – the point I’m making (not well, clearly) is that there will always be people who can’t accept difference in others’ lifestyles and choices. And while you might argue that, in this day and age, relationships between individuals of different race and / religion are tolerated, in many parts of the world (even this part of the world, quite often) they are not.
And further to that, whilst no-one enjoys the bountiful comedic potential this situation provides the writer, and comic (hell, everyone!) more than me, I’ll have to pull you upon one or two minor points. And I know you’ll have trouble with this. Mummy (Nancy) is not a lesbian, because she is not in a sexual relationship with another woman, she is in a hetero relationship with someone who is now (but for one or two final steps), a man.
Thomas is not a lesbian either (see above explanation). He carried the baby, because she, through no fault of her own, was not able to do so. She is feeding the baby because he is not able to do so (no longer having any boobies and all), and would not wish to, in so much as he is the father. The kid does not have two mothers, she has a mother and a father. Neither of them are ‘wrong’, it’s just different to what most of us are used to.
Susan will likely grow into quite an open-minded and resiliant child, as children of parents who are less conventional than most often do. She certainly will not know anything different, and as she will most likely love both parents, probably won’t think there’s anything weird about it. Her life will probably be less of a freak show than scores of celeb babies, who are often born into lifestyles that are just flat out bizarre.
I don’t think anyone expects you to feel all ‘glowing and happy’ for this couple, gigdiary, and I don’t think you’d feel all glowing and happy for two male or two female parents, either. It’s your right to call people you don’t understand ‘freaks’, just as it’s mine to maintain that I think it’s kind of a nice story.
I don’t feel all that shredded, in fact I’ve enjoyed the debate! Maybe you should take two Bex?
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oops, copied and pasted the wrong bit…….
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cath, much as I enjoy your well-crafted writing, I’ll take you to task on one point, and then attempt to tear you to shreds on the rest. Well, something like that. Color and race aren’t a part of this debate. Gender is the issue. There is a decile, 10%, of humans who are most likely to be born homosexual. Throughout history the other 90% have vilified yet also tried to assimilate their disparity into life’s model.
Sexuality is no small issue in any person’s life. There are an even smaller percentage of humans who feel that they were born into the wrong body. (Heck, I was, I should have been Einstein or at least Shakespeare, or Madonna, that would be interesting, I’ve always wanted big biceps). Sexuality and gender issues are topics de jour in the 90s and noughties. It’s as if we don’t have enough to think about with global warming, mortgage rates and our kids turning out like Corey Worthington. Yet, we have time and energy to focus of those of us who are slightly different. Did I say slightly different ?
Get a grip here, folks. They are a lesbian couple, yep that fits the ten percent, they’ve had all sorts of artificial surgery to pretend their gender is something other than what they were born with. The wrong one gets to ‘carry’, like in a box, the baby, and good ol’ redneck gigdiary is supposed to come across all glowing and happy for them. Freaks. Like Lu said, I pity the kid.
Being however born between Sept 22 and Oct 22, gigdiary is unfortunately blessed or damned with the want to see both sides. So here it is. Yep, the kid will be loved. I’m trying to find some other positives. The kid gets to buy two Mothers Day presents. Really, other than being loved, I can’t think of one positive for poor Susan.
Mind you being loved is a pretty big positive.
(Damn scales)
It shouldn’t matter to anyone what color, race, or combination of the two, a couple are. The desire to bring life into the world and nurture and raise children is powerful, regardless of gender. Ask anyone trying desperately to conceive. Who is anyone to argue that they have more right to parent than anyone else, because they consider their definition of ‘normal’ to be superior?
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Lu, for once, I’m on your side in the comments on this issue. Imagine them telling young Susan the situation regarding her birth.
‘Mummy is a lesbian and wanted to marry Daddy, who was a woman, but decided to become a man, yet still wanted to marry Mummy, but that doesn’t make him a lesbian, or does it ? Then Mummy couldn’t have a baby, so Daddy, who really is a girl got pregnant from a clinic, and when you were born, Mummy took drugs to make her breasts give milk, so you could nuzzle her titty, even though Daddy was really your Mummy. ‘Cos he had his breasts cut off, he couldn’t act like the Mummy he really is. So there you have it, dear child, your wondrous and exciting upbringing. Now will you trust us to lead you in other decision making aspects of your life. Remember, Mummy was a girl and now is a man, yet Daddy, the lesbian, gave you milk from his breasts, ‘cos Mummy had decided to become a man, and cut off his breasts. Or is it the other way around. Even parents can’t keep track sometimes.’
I think I need a Bex and a lie down.
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I’m with Michelle and Mel. It’s simple – A man, (who used to be a woman, but has been taking testosterone, and had his boobs cut off)and a woman met, fell in love and got married. They wanted to have a child to complete their family, and as the woman could not carry the baby, due to having had a hysterectomy years ago to resolve severe endometriosis (where was she going to carry it – in a box? Sorry, bit of ‘Life of Brian there!), and the man was still biologically able to do so, they took steps to become pregnant, and delivered a baby called Susan into the world via natural vaginal birth. The mother is breastfeeding the baby, as this is something she is able to do. The parents are loving, and seem more than emotionally equipped to successfully parent their child.
Two people love each other and want to have a child to complete their family. All they want is love, acceptance, and family – which is all anyone wants! The only part about this scenario I found sickening was how many people found the situation sickening! It was confronting to see a ‘man’ with a belly and a beard, and it didn’t help that the media hook led people to believe that a man was pregnant.
But get over it! You don’t get that many chances at happiness in this life, and you shouldn’t let gender, or fear of prejudice and bias, prevent you from being who you really are, and being happy. I admire this couple’s guts, and wish them all the best.
It shouldn’t matter to anyone what color, race, or combination of the two, a couple are. The desire to bring life into the world and nurture and raise children is powerful, regardless of gender. Ask anyone trying desperately to conceive. Who is anyone to argue that they have more right to parent than anyone else, because they consider their definition of ‘normal’ to be superior?
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am i the only one confused with the whole anatomy thing? so he had a vaginal birth, but he’s got a penis as well? i think i’ll go google sex change now, bc i’m definitely missing something…
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great posts, ladies. In three you’ve summed it up. Wacko and weirdo, but loving and caring. A lot better than the horrible stuff we hear everyday about other so called ‘parents’. “Talua from Beulah”, oh please. I can just hear them at the registry office, “hey, bro, it says here, child’s name, what do you reckon….”
I reckon they should stop their welfare cheques. Maybe with a little less gunja these wackos may see the world a bit more in line with human beings.
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Yeah, sure the child will be loved, cherished, treated better than kids who are abused or live in violent homes with ‘normal’ parents. I still think these parents are unhinged and this child will have an awful life. Whether it be from the result of prejudice or just the realisation that her parents are VERY DIFFERENT to her friends parents. She will grow up feeling like a freak and its very sad.
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I think this baby is going to be loved and cared for really well. I agree with Michelle’s comment, there are SO many selfish and angry parents out there making their little kid’s lives miserable…these two went to a lot of trouble to bring this baby in the world and I think she’s going to be very adored.
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Well good on them
) Anyone who goes through that much at that age to still give breastfeeding a go deserves a round of applause – bizarrely I (someone who is usually pretty opinionated on a whole range of subjects LOL) am the only person I know who really doesn’t have any problem with this and can’t see what the big deal is with the whole thing (other than maybe I’d not have gone to the International media about it LOL). Really it’s just a woman (with…um…”extra bits”) who’s had a baby. Again, good on ‘em 
) There are plenty of babies out there with hideous parents (and at least they didn’t call her Talula Does The Hula LOL)
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