Transcript:
So this has been in the press lately. Can or should a trans woman "chestfeed" her infant? So, just to clarify, we're talking about a woman with a male body and no breasts. The CDC says YES. Now, I'd like you to set aside your initial emotional reaction to this for a minute. The purpose of this video is to take a dispassionate look at the practicality and safety issues for the baby, The CDC has added to it's guidelines on breastfeeding, that healthcare providers should help trans women, biological men, with drugs to induce milk production.
What would those drugs be? In the only two cases that have been published, they used the drug domperidone to get the body to produce the hormone prolactin. Domperidone is used for stomach issues and not approved in the US for any use because of safety concerns. Exactly what drug should we help them get? Black market domperidone? Metoclopramide raises prolactin, but it's caused intestinal gas formation, ticks, and twitches, and other problems in breastfeeding newborns. Remember, no drug does only what you want it to. But I don't know what other drugs would work.
The induction of milk is a complex coordination of at least half a dozen hormones and steroids that we know of. Is the male body fully equipped to make the same quality milk as an XX chromosome woman? Maybe. But I don't think we know. Has anybody studied it? Men and women have differences in their very DNA. I think the CDC was a little hasty on this guideline. Feels like political pressure drove this. We need more research. This is nothing short of experimenting on newborns. Now THAT'S not okay. Baby comes first.
DISCLAIMER: THIS SITE/CHANNEL/POSTING DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Limited published data report the presence of metoclopramide in human milk in variable amounts; breastfed infants exposed to metoclopramide have experienced gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including intestinal discomfort and increased intestinal gas formation; metoclopramide elevates prolactin levels; however, published data are not adequate to support drug effects on milk production; developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with mother’s clinical need for therapy and any potential adverse effects on breastfed child from therapy or from underlying maternal condition
Monitor breastfeeding neonates because metoclopramide may cause extrapyramidal signs (dystonias) and methemoglobinemia
Comments