The pregnant man.
Neivia Justa
Communications & Marketing Director | Thought Leader | Top Voice | Vital Voices Visionary | DEI Activist | Mother | #LíderComNeivia #OndeEst?oAsMulheres #AquiEst?oAsMulheres Creator | Board member | Author | Speaker
That was just another ordinary day when Anna* was called to show the hospital facilities to another pregnant woman, as she usually did. As she approached, she realized she was facing a young transgender man who was pregnant, accompanied by his mother.
Otto* had already visited other hospitals and seemed apprehensive: would he and his pregnancy be treated in a humane and dignified manner in that place? Could he trust the most important moment of his life to the team represented by that nurse?
Anna showed him where and how his childbirth would take place, from arrival at the maternity ward to the moment he would return home with his baby in his arms. That visit made the day extraordinary and memorable for both of them. The empathetic way Anna guided him and addressed all his doubts made Otto feel confident that this was the hospital where he would give birth to his child.
And there was Anna, facing one of the biggest challenges of her life, both personally and professionally. Immediately, she created a multifunctional team to review processes and procedures, receive and provide all the necessary education and training. Beyond the operational aspect, there were only a few months for everyone to unlearn or, at least, combat their prejudices and limiting beliefs, thus ensuring that Otto and his child received the same treatment as any pregnant woman during childbirth.
Otto made it clear that natural childbirth and breastfeeding were out of the question: he didn't want to feel like a woman, something he wasn't. He asked the team not to try to persuade him otherwise. And so it was done. He went into labor on a Sunday. Although Anna was off duty, the cesarian section went according to the plan. Only one change occurred: he breastfed his baby.
领英推荐
Registering his child was a second challenge that Otto faced, with the support of the hospital and the Municipal Health Department.
Love prevailed. Father and son live each day happier together.
This true story, with fictional names, transformed the lives of everyone involved. We need more Annas in the world! And let the Anna within all of us flourish every day, not just during LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Month.
I am?Neivia Justa,?awarded and recognized?Brazilian activist corporate leader,?Vital Voices Visionary 2022,?mother of Luiza and Julia,?two teenager college girls, journalist, entrepreneur, influencer, teacher, mentor, speaker, consultant and?connector of purposeful leaders who think, communicate and act in a conscious, diverse, inclusive and innovative way to guarantee a sustainable future for all, beginning with women, all women.
Comunica??o | Desenvolvimento Humano
10 个月Fantastic!
Justice Truth Integrity Compassion Courage
1 年Anna represents the role model as a health care worker; none judgemental, respectful, compassionate. I appreciate her approach. Good for her. But, I really cannot understand the need of promoting extremely unnatural way of living. This days, we're experiencing disasterous consequences of human self-destructive actions; climate change, fires, floods, hunger crisis in East Africa, etc. We are unable to learn from our mistakes, but sadly, pushing our luck straight to Armageddon. Is it because we are bored of "normality", duality? Why we need to put our fingers in the natural evolutionary processes on Earth? Are we really believe, that we are able to engineering earthy life better than evolution brought us to the stage we living in at these days? Difficult days for young people. So confusing... How to guide children through this "varieties"? In my words, mess and chaos.
Founder at TorVirtual Business Solutions
1 年You are either a woman or you are not. No such thing as a pregnant man.
Deaf Cultural Consultants; we save taxpayers money by helping government agencies and businesses make the right policies and decisions the first time. >>> Ask me about how I can help you be Deaf Friendly.
1 年After reading this article again, and the author’s purpose being about women, all women, I believe the story to be made up and false. I think the goal was NOT pro transgender men, at all. I believe it was actually anti transgender, and pro TERF, part of saying a woman is a woman and that through Anna being gentle enough eventually a transgender person identifying as a man will enjoy motherhood, bonding with a baby as women do, and femininity. This is a cleverly written article to disguise that. If the intent was NOT anti Transgender Men, it should have been consulted by MEN and not written by a cisgender woman. I will unfollow this Neivia Justa now because of this as nobody should be writing for groups they are not a part of and misrepresent them.
editor, writer, linguist, lexicographer, innovative thinker
1 年Congratulations, Otto!! If you posted below about how you don't get something about this story, whether it's getting how to say, "pregnant man," or getting why, as a man, Otto wanted to have his baby via a c-section and was hesitant about chestfeeding, or why, as a man, Otto didn't want to feel like a woman, I suggest reading a lot more and writing about this less. Sure, you're entitled to you're opinion, but you're not entitled to be disrespectful of Otto. Sometimes opinions are best shared only in private. Sometimes we need to lean into our empathy more. Sometimes people whose existence and sense of self are constantly challenged—and when one's sense of self is challenged, it can feel as if one's existence is challenged—find it really hard to keep on going. That's why it's better to keep certain opinions to oneself. #IAmHereUS