The World's First Pregnant Man

Posted by Joanna Karpasea-Jones Jul 8, 2008

I've got to admit, when I first heard about the world's first pregnant man, I was excited. Had a biological switch of nature happened? Did some bizzare IVF experiment actually work out? I remembered myself in labor with my son, cursing at my partner that I'd had five children and he never, never took his turn at labor pains. If he so wanted to be a hands on father, why didn't he do the childbirth?

Looking back on it, I laughed, but now, if a man had actually gone and done it, maybe husband's the world over would have to bear their fair share of contractions!

So I was momentarily disappointed when I discovered that Thomas Beatie did used to be a woman and still had all the girl tackle to prove it. No extraordinary biological feat, there.

Then I was relieved. Thank God a biological man wasn't pregnant. That is the domain of women. One thing I loved about having my children was the way I looked when pregnant. I got an instant breast enlargement without having any surgery, which lasted for the entire 3 years I was breast feeding, the growing bump was curvy and feminine and giving birth, although physically unpleasant, was a miracle. To bring a life into the world made me feel like a Goddess and I have never been able to match the euphoria with anything else. I felt slightly jealous that a man could experience that.

Then I wondered about the baby. What will she think, growing up with a dad that gave birth to her? Wouldn't that mess up a child's head? Or am I just being closed minded?

I don't know whether it's right or wrong or if it simply just is. I do know this brave new world takes some time to get used to.