In the latter part of 2020, Ash Patrick Schade, a 28-year-old transgender man, embarked on an unexpected journey of becoming a parent. His path to parenthood took an unconventional turn when he connected with a stranger on Grindr. Little did Ash Patrick Schade know that this encounter would lead to a life-altering event.
Prior to this, the idea of having children hadn't crossed Ash Patrick Schade's mind. However, fate had different intentions. In February 2020, he found himself pregnant, defying societal norms and expectations.
The Huntington, West Virginia, USΑ, PHD student and mental health worker was astounded by the information but immediately stopped her hormone therapy in order to give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to her daughter Ronan Shiva, who is now a year old. Despite the surprise, Αsh, who is a girl by 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, claimed he “fell in love with my bump.” I had a challenging time between 2019 and 2020. Due to the divorce, I was concerned about my mental health. I eventually joined Grindr and became pregnant. However, nothing foresaw Αsh getting pregnant at some point. The young man underwent extensive hormone treatment when he realized he was carrying a child since he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 with a gender identification different from the one assigned at 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡.
I was taking testosterone gels and estrogen suppressors when I became pregnant, and I never imagined I could do so because it was such a rare occurrence, recalls Αsh. Due to going through a divorce, I had a difficult time in 2019 and 2020 and battled with my mental health. I ended up using Grindr to hook up, and I unintentionally became pregnant. Despite my dysphagia and the associated risks, I managed to get through the pregnancy and fell in love with my bump. I love Ronan more than I love myself. She is everything to me.
Despite the surprise, Αsh decides to become pregnant with Term. He is eager to become a seahorse father and start his own family. Transgender or non-binary gestational parents are referred to as practicing seahorse parenting. The male seahorse that bears and gives 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to live offspring is where the term “seahorse” originates. But for the soon-to-be father, who must deal with the prejudice of others and the lack of support from professionals while experiencing gender dysphoria, it is a very challenging assignment.
Due to a frequent dearth of medical personnel who are competent and sympathetic to her predicament, Αsh finds it challenging to become pregnant. “When I originally learned that I was pregnant, no one wanted to take my case. There is a lot of chance for the pregnancy to go wrong because I am such a high-risk case. He did, however, work with me to comprehend how I felt and what I was going through when I was hired as a doctor. The medical staff was notified of my predicament when I went into labor, which was amazing until they were subsequently replaced by different staff. One of them must have been startled when they saw my hairy legs mounted on a tripod since they suggested that I “rethink your gender identity.”
One year later, Αsh is raising a miracle son named Ronan Shiva with her husband, Jordan, and is a content walrus father. “I am concerned about my capacity as a parent and about how other people will view me. Jordan, my husband’s love, stood by me throughout the entire process and even helped me cut Ronan’s chord. Despite the physical challenges she faced while pregnant, Αsh has found comfort in her husband’s love and the internet LBGTQI+ network.
