Transgender mum slammed for breastfeeding baby after lactation treatment

A transgender woman who shared her joy at being able to breastfeed her baby has been criticised after undergoing treatment to produce milk.

A photo of a transgender woman breastfeeding her baby has sparked anger online as many claim the milk is “not natural” and questioned if it could harm the bub.

The unidentified trans mother had begun a regimen of hormones to enable her body to produce milk ahead of her daughter’s birth, who she welcomed with her wife.

After successfully lactating and feeding her little girl, the proud mum took to Reddit under the username AdmiralFisticuffs to share her journey along with a touching photo of the moment.

However, the woman’s snap was shared on Twitter where it garnered criticism, many incorrectly claiming: “This can’t be safe for the baby.”

A transgender woman who shared her joy at being able to breastfeed her daughter has caused outrage over her snap. Picture: Reddit

According to her post, the woman had followed the Newman-Goldfarb Protocol, a process developed in by Dr Jack Newman and Dr Lenore Goldfarb in Canada in 2000 that works by “tricking” the body into thinking it’s pregnant.

The key drug used in the process is domperidone, an anti-nausea medication which has also been found to increase prolactin levels. As a result, it is regularly prescribed around the world – including Australia – to help breastfeeding mothers.

While domperidone increases the volume of breast milk, or “tricks” the body into producing it in the case of transgender women, a 2015 study shows it doesn’t “substantially alter the nutrient composition”.

However, induced lactation in trans women is still “highly experimental” as little research has been done into its long-term effects.

“I’ve been working with a lactation consultant and my GP for several months now to induce lactation, and this last month have started to actually produce some milk, but it still doesn’t feel real,” the woman explained in her post.

She went on to explain the baby was “latching on and feeding from both of us” describing the experience as “exciting”.

“There was a part of me that was irrationally afraid that the baby would reject me for not being her ‘real’ mum, and I’m so glad to see that little voice proven wrong,” she said.

While experts say the milk is safe for babies, many claimed online it was ‘wrong’. Picture: Reddit

Her post was well received on Reddit where many users called the moment “beautiful” and explained they’d been left feeling emotional.

“This is so awesome! Makes me so happy!” one wrote.

“Oh my god this is so sweet, my heart can’t take it,” another said.

And one wrote: “I’m tearing up right now. Congratulations to you both!”

However, Twitter users had a very different response after it was shared by an anti-trans account.

“This poor child. This is an experiment on an infant who can’t consent. This is abuse for validation and it’s disgusting,” the post read along with a screenshot of original post and the breastfeeding photo.

Many were quick to jump on and blast the woman, labelling it “sickening” and “wrong”.

“This is wrong in many ways, so disgusting,” one cruel commenter claimed.

“This is just sickening! The poor baby,” another added.

Originally published as Transgender mum slammed for breastfeeding baby after lactation treatment