The health impacts of trans-identified mothers chestfeeding their babies while taking testosterone are unknown.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is offering shocking new guidance to transgender individuals who are taking testosterone, encouraging them to continue doing so while breastfeeding their babies.

Even though potential risks to the child – breastfed while the mother is on testosterone – are not fully understood, the NHS recommends that they continue „chestfeeding, the Voice of Europe news portal has pointed out.

The guidance issued by NHS has sparked fierce debates on social media, not least because of its absurdity, as many find it difficult to imagine that a woman identifying as a man can actually give birth to a child while on testosterone.

The issue has also raised concerns among advocates for women’s rights and child welfare.

Hi @NHSuk why are you suggesting trans identified women who ‘chestfeed’ take testosterone if it’s ‘triggering’ for them to stop, despite stating it’s ‘unclear’ how the milk could affect the baby? @againstgrmrs @SteveBarclay @andrewdoyle_com @ReduxxMag https://t.co/QwXGPjNJUZ pic.twitter.com/pgX7IIu0Vr

— Gender Receipts (@GenderReceipts) October 11, 2023

A website named GenderReceipts has shared NHS’s ‘Testosterone and pregnancy’ guidance, which mentions that taking testosterone may affect milk supply, which in turn can make it impossible to chestfeed a baby.

Then it goes on to suggest that, If a mother can chestfeed while on testosterone, then her milk may have small amounts of testosterone in it.

GenderReceipts questioned why the NHS recommends that “trans-identified women who chestfeed take testosterone when the health impacts on the child are unknown. The NHS guidance stated that “It is unclear what, if any, effect this could have on your baby,” while also highlighting the importance of considering the well-being of the individual experiencing gender dysphoria if they stop taking testosterone.

In other words: the „well-being” of a trans person is more important than the baby’s health.

The use of “inclusive” language in maternity care, such as replacing “breastfeeding” with the term “chestfeeding,” has also sparked debates.