[sirI]

Originally Posted by suninmyeyes

Can a staff person explain to us why this thread isn't showing up anymore under the Nursing News column on the front page?

The thread was moved to Current Events for it was not nursing-related.

[SteveRN21]

Originally Posted by suninmyeyes

It sounds like you are saying this couple does not have a right to bear a child. As staff I would have expected more from you here. Come'on. Did you really meant this?

So if I'm to make the same assumptions you did, you believe that as a volunteer moderator, I somehow gave up my right to express my own values, beliefs and opinions.

I AM more careful in considering what I do post, but being a mod hasn't changed my morals.

I see this case as a sensationalized lesbian pregnancy. Nothing miraculous or demanding of my attention. Sure they have a right to have a child, just as I would want the right to have a child as a currently single male if I chose it at some point.

I recently had a patient whose fathers had arranged for a surrogate mother to carry their child. I understand that.

I am saddened, however by the number of children who are kept in foster care or abusive homes because there aren't enough adoptive families out there. Why go through all that trouble, expense and red-tape to perform a "home insemination" when you can provide a loving, open home to an unwanted child?

I think we need to destigmatize gay/lesbian adoption, as well as single-parent adoption.

[earle58]

Originally Posted by suninmyeyes

Biologically yes, but can we all respect the fact that some people chose to "identify" as transmale or transfemale?

we should respect that fact...
can't say that everyone does, however.
i'm just trying to understand why/how this made it to oprah?
i mean, psychogenically, this pregnant woman, is a man.
perhaps this is the differentiating dx that separates men from women?
do we eval gender based on biological or psychogenic presentation?

it just seems there should have been a more accurate description, than 'pregnant male'.
i find it rather misleading.

leslie

[zamboni]

Originally Posted by SteveRN21

I am saddened, however by the number of children who are kept in foster care or abusive homes because there aren't enough adoptive families out there. Why go through all that trouble, expense and red-tape to perform a "home insemination" when you can provide a loving, open home to an unwanted child?

I suppose the same thing could be said about any hetero couple using IVF and spending thousands to have a baby. Would you say the same thing to a hetero couple?

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

Originally Posted by zamboni

I suppose the same thing could be said about any hetero couple using IVF and spending thousands to have a baby. Would you say the same thing to a hetero couple?

I sure would, but just my

IMHO as a Mom and now GM. parenting is about raising a child, not having a little person with your perfect DNA amd/or who you got stretch marks from.

Some people of all lifestyles seem more focused on "having a baby" than loving and raising a child.

[Elvish]

Originally Posted by zamboni

I suppose the same thing could be said about any hetero couple using IVF and spending thousands to have a baby. Would you say the same thing to a hetero couple?

It goes through my mind EVERY SINGLE TIME I see a couple who's spent years and years and years and years and more money than I'll ever see on IVF. Please, there are so many kids out there that need good homes. I want to adopt a child myself, but my husband is not on board with it - yet.

[DutchgirlRN]

The child was obviously planned, obviously wanted, will be loved. I see nothing wrong with what they did. I don't view it as being sensational in any way.

Just a couple who want a child and will love it.

What bothers me more is why some people think those who are not conventional should adopt rather than procreate? Willing to believe a unconventional set of parents will corrupt a child yet a normal couple will not? So were going to have all the unconventional parents adopt needy children because it's ok to mess them up?

[DutchgirlRN]

Okay I just watched this show. I had seen about 15 minutes of it and saved it on DVR to watch later.

She, anatomically still a female, was "Miss Teen Hawaii".


She/He decided to be a male, had her breasts removed, began taking testosterone but did not have surgery to change the gentalia hoping to have a child someday. He says that the testosterone caused his clitoris to enlarge so that it functions as a penis and that he does have sexual intercourse with his wife in the traditional way. He is a man legally, therefore, able to get legally married 5 years ago.

Many OB/GYN's had turned them down for prenatal care saying either they didn't feel comfortable with it or that their staff wouldn't feel comfortable with it. What's up with that? The doctor who is seeing Thomas says her patients choose her, she doesn't choose them. Bravo Dr Kimberly James, MD!! Plans are for a vaginal delivery. The wife has 2 grown daughters from a previous marriage who are behind them 100%. BTW It's a girl!

[Suninmyheart]

In questioning all the publicity and reason for releasing photos like the one above I must say the positive result is that this issue gets more exposure. We need to hear their stories.

I still do not understand or comprehend what it feels like to need to do a gender transition and even more, have a child as a transmale but my compassion is there and my love.

Maybe it is different to first love someone and then be witness to their transistion. Maybe it has been easier to not have to label it as right or wrong.

And the whole "right or wrong" thing gets me. Right or wrong for who? Transistion into a male is wrong for ME. But I have no right to call it wrong for another.

Peace,
Sun (Lisa)

[DutchgirlRN]

They said the reason they agreed to the People Magazine article and the Oprah interview is because they knew the story would get out and they would rather tell it themselves in their own words rather than letting the press do it for them. Oprah asked them what would happen if they were descended upon by the press and followed by them with the child around. They said they would give up their business which is an auto repair shop (he is an auto mechanic) and they would simply disappear. Oprah asked how would you make a living? We would figure that out later they replied. Thomas ended by saying that this baby is wanted and that love makes a family. I was impressed by this couple. I wish them all the best.