Jennifer’s Journey: Transgender Mom Breastfeeds Her Baby, Proving Love Has No Boundaries

A transgender mother who went through medical treatment so she could breastfeed her newborn son is taking legal action after a breastfeeding expert made hurtful public comments about her experience.

Jennifer Adrian Buckley, a transgender woman from Brisbane, says she was deeply affected by remarks that dismissed her journey as not real and described it as unsafe. The case will be heard by a tribunal in Queensland next year to decide whether the comments amounted to discrimination.

Jennifer shared that in 2019, she was able to produce milk and breastfeed her baby after receiving medical help to mimic pregnancy. Her wife, Sandi, had given birth through IVF using sperm Jennifer had stored before her transition. With guidance from her endocrinologist, Jennifer followed a careful plan of hormone treatments and daily pumping to help her body create milk.

“At first, I could only make a small amount, but it slowly increased over time,” she said. When Sandi had health complications, Jennifer stepped in to feed their baby for a short while. Though some hospital staff were hesitant at first, she later continued breastfeeding at home with stored milk.

Her doctor, endocrinologist Naomi Achong, who has supported other transgender women in similar journeys, said the outcomes have always been positive. “There are no known risks to the baby — only benefits for both parents and their child,” she shared.

Jennifer hopes her story will help others feel supported and seen, showing that love, care, and the desire to nurture a child can come in many forms.