Thomas Beatie, the transgender man who made headlines as the so-called “pregnant man,” gave birth today to a healthy baby girl.
Thomas Beatie, who was born a woman named Tracy Lagondino, defended his decision to have a baby, saying he has a “right to have a biological child.”

Beatie had his breasts removed, grew a beard, and legally changed his gender from female to male. But Beatie, 34, kept his female organs because he had always dreamed of having a child.

Thomas Beatie struggled for years with his sexual identity, and decided to become a man.

Thomas Beatie and his partner appeared on Oprah Winfrey. Beatie stated on the show that he always wanted to have a child, and decided to get pregnant when his wife, Nancy, was unable to get pregnant.

“I actually opted not to do anything to my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day. I see pregnancy as a process and it doesn’t define who I am,” Beatie told Winfrey.

“I feel it’s not a male or female desire to have a child. It’s a human need. I’m a person and I have the right to have a biological child.”

The couple used a sperm donor to get pregnant. Thomas’ wife, Nancy, artificially inseminated him at home with a syringe-type device. They bought it from a veterinarian and it is typically used to feed birds.

He has an intact vagina, but he he did not say how he would deliver the baby.

Beatie was born as Tracy, and always felt trapped in the wrong body, especially in his 20’s. As Tracy, he was a beautiful woman, even became Miss Teen Hawaii USA as a finalist.

“Sexuality is completely different than your gender,” he said, responding to a question about why he did not remain a lesbian woman. “I felt more comfortable being the male gender.”

“It was difficult for society to respect the way I felt inside if I didn’t look like a man outside. I started wearing men’s clothes and people started regarding me as a man.”

Beatie’s wife, Nancy said she could no longer have children because she had her uterus removed.

“It wasn’t difficult because I can’t have children,” Nancy said. “I had endometriosis and they had to remove my womb, therefore I don’t have a womb.”

The couple had to visit many obstetricians until they found someone that met their special needs.

“People’s normal perceptions are going to be challenged, but once I met Thomas and Nancy I realized they’re devoted and need quality medical care like everyone else,” doctor Kimberly James told Oprah.

“Thomas has been off testosterone for two years before even trying to conceive. His testosterone levels are normal. Some physical changes are permanent, but his hormone levels are normal. People ask ‘is the baby going to be normal?’ The baby is totally healthy,” she said.

The couple’s family and neighbors have reacted in different ways, some supportive, others less so. When his first pregnancy failed, “my brother said it was a good thing that it didn’t happen because it would have been a monster,” he told Winfrey.

Nancy’s two daughters, however, are very supportive.

Neighbors, identified only as George and Victoria, from Bend, Ore., said they were more surprised that shocked.

“I was under the impression that Nancy was pregnant. I often see Thomas out and about cutting grass. Thomas told us it was he that was pregnant. I was surprised. It’s not Nancy? It’s Thomas. I have to get my head around this,” Victoria said.

Beatie said he and his wife are legally married because Beatie is legally a man. They plan to provide a happy home for their baby girl.

“Love makes a family and that’s all that matters,” he said.

Congrats to Thomas Beatie and Nancy!

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