Milk from trans women 'comparable' to biological women's breast milk, hospital claims

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom (TND) — An English hospitalclaimed in August that milk produced by transgender women can substitute for milk derived from biological women.

The University of Sussex Hospitals National Health Service Trust attested to the value of chemically induced transgender women's milk in a letter to protestors obtained by the Policy Exchange think tank.

Although formula milk provides safe and effective full nutrition for infants, there is clear and overwhelming evidence that human milk is the ideal food for infants when this can be provided,” Medical Director Rachael James wrote.

Milk produced through medically induced lactation is comparable to that produced following childbirth, according to the hospital. It cited a 2022 study producing no side effects for infants ingesting milk from transgender women.

The system also pushed back on arguments it created policies with a bias against females and transitioning parents’ children.

I would like to reiterate that the trust takes the wellbeing and safeguarding of children extremely seriously,” James said. “When the wellbeing and safeguarding of children is in conflict with the expressed wishes or behavior of their parents, and they are at risk of suffering harm as defined by the law, then staff are obliged to take further action and intervene to protect the child.”

Protestors raised concerns over transgender women using chest feeding to achieve sexual gratification and thereby harm infants, a practice the hospital acknowledged.

“The trust works from the perspective that all prospective parents wish the very best for their children,” James noted. “Sadly, as we know from reports in the media about serious safeguarding cases, this is not always the case however, and staff work hard to ensure all babies in the care of the trust are kept safe.”

She continued to concede the system cannot always cater to patients preferring a nurse of a certain sex given workplace conditions.

The trust ... acknowledges that patients for a wide variety of reasons may have a preference for being cared for by a male or female nurse or in a single sex ward and staff will always be sensitive to and mindful of the preference of patients,” James remarked. “However, the limitations of the hospital environment and the clinical and non-clinical staffing profiles on wards and in outpatient clinics means that this is not always possible.”

The CDC in July updated its recommendations for healthcare facilities providing care to transgender women.

“Healthcare providers working with these families should be familiar with medical, emotional and social aspects of gender transitions to provide optimal family-centered care and meet the nutritional needs of the infant,” the agency advised.

Follow Ray Lewis on X for trending national news @rayjlewis or send a tip to rjlewis@sbgtv.com.