50-year-old male, trans ‘grandma’ breastfeeds grandchild after drug regimen at Duke University to create bond, touts ‘added bonus’ of increasing bust size

According to the Daily Mail, the unidentified 50-year-old was able to produce up to 30 ml of milk at a time following a four-week course of hormone treatment.

The researchers wrote that the biological male "lactated for a total of two weeks" and was able to feed the four-month-old child. The study was conducted by Duke University’s Esme Trahair, Sarah Kokosa, Andy Weinhold, Heather Parnell, Andrea Dotson, and Carly Kelley.

The trans-identified male reportedly wanted to induce lactation to create a "bond from breastfeeding that she had not been able to experience with her own five children."

"Her primary motivation for inducing lactation was to experience the bond from breastfeeding that she had not been able to experience with her own five children," the researchers wrote. "The patient tearfully reported this was a significant and emotional experience for her that felt very different from formula feeding her other children.."

"She states she has a special bond with this baby for which she is grateful."

The biological male was reportedly moved to tears by the experience, and added that the process resulted in an increased bust size and an affirmation of the unidentified subject’s chosen gender.

The course of treatment was later stopped "due to logistical barriers."

The study was published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine, with researchers writing that the patient said they had "a last minute idea" about breastfeeding the child.

"The patient first expressed the unique desire to breastfeed her expected grandchild at an appointment with her endocrinologist in the spring of 2022," the researchers wrote, adding that "she disclosed that this was a last-minute idea that came very close to her daughter’s due date."

"At five weeks after initiating treatment changes for lactation induction, she reverted to her previous medication regimen," they continued. "She states that she stopped pursuing her personal goal to breastfeed due to logistical barriers, such as the need to take care of her grandchild while her daughter was pumping."

The researchers later added that "She regrets that she had not known about the possibility sooner and wished that other transgender women could know that breastfeeding a baby can be a reality."

"She reported unforeseen benefits, including female gender affirmation and full breast maturation."

The researchers stated that the trans-identifying male "did not experience any side effects from her treatment regimen."

This is the fifth case report of a trans-identifying male inducing lactation. In the previous four studies, drug regimens were used that were not approved for use in the US by the Food and Drug Administration.

The researchers noted in the study, "Conversations with the subject before, during, and after treatment revealed important insights for the ongoing discussions about the role of lactation induction and breastfeeding in gender-affirming care."