Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast: 15. Breaking the mold: Gender diversity, pregnancy and parenting

Episode Summary

Parenthood brings huge life changes — all of which can be more challenging if you don't fit the traditional, heterosexual nuclear family mold. Author Krys Malcolm Belc discusses his book reflecting on his experience as a trans parent through pregnancy and beyond. Dr. Caroline Davidge-Pitts explains how health care providers can support gender diverse patients.

Episode Notes

We talked with:

• Krys Malcolm Belc is the author of "The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenting." His essays have been featured in Granta, Guernica, The Rumpus and elsewhere.
• Caroline Davidge-Pitts, M.D., is an associate professor of medicine and associate practice chair of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Mayo Clinic Rochester. She is the medical director of the Transgender and Intersex Specialty Care Clinic.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Navigating nontraditional parenthood. From defying your parents' expectations to strange looks from strangers to having to adopt your own children, Krys talks about his experience with fertility treatment, pregnancy care and parenting as a transmasculine parent.
• Navigating the health care system. How can health care providers make parenthood more accessible and comfortable for gender diverse people? Krys and Dr. Davidge-Pitts have some ideas.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase Krys' book "The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenting."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble 
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • How can I train myself to use the right pronouns?
  • Is chestfeeding the new breastfeeding?: Explaining gender-neutral medical terms.
  • Caring for transgender and gender-diverse children, teens

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at readtalkgrow@mayo.edu.
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