Why Zahad got pregnant and why he yearns to be a dad

Zahad (23) and Ziya (21) had been in a relationship for the past three years. It was only natural then that they were ready to take the next step, and have a baby. Except that Zahad and Ziya are not like most other couples – they are both transgenders. The couple say they had initially thought of adoption. However, owing to the complex legal procedures, that option was abandoned. That’s when they thought of embracing pregnancy.Prior to the pregnancy, Zahad and Ziya were both undergoing hormone therapy to change their gender assigned at birth. When they decided to conceive a child one-and-a-half years ago, they decided to halt it. Zahad, who was born a woman and was transitioning to become a man, was yet to undergo gender-affirming surgery, but had already had a mastectomy.Their first attempt at conceiving a child was unfruitful, but their second attempt was a success, and under the medical supervision of a team of doctors, Zahad became pregnant.The pregnancy was recently made public by his partner Ziya, a transwoman, on Instagram. “My wish to become a mother and his wish to become a father led us to this thought. Now an eight-month-old life is in his womb,” she wrote.On February 8, 2023, Zahad gave birth to a healthy baby. "The baby was born at around 9.30am through a caesarean section at the Government Medical College Hospital [Kozhikode], Both the baby and Zahad are doing well,” Ziya said soon after the baby was born. medium97800093Zahad and the baby are currently under observation at the hospital. Looking back, he candidly admits it wasn’t an easy decision. Zahad says he never had any fantasies about motherhood and always yearned to be a father. “Though we decided to become pregnant, I had inhibitions at the initial stage. Thoughts about my masculinity took a toll. However, once I started feeling the baby inside of me, I began to enjoy my pregnancy.” “I will resume my gender transition treatment soon,” he says.Cyber bullying While the couple are ecstatic about having a baby, Zahad and Ziya know the road ahead will not be easy. They say they are opting for gender-neutral parenting, where they prefer not to assign any gender to the baby for now.The couple have already faced their share of cyber bullying – abuse, memes and trolling that includes questions on the gender of the newborn child and the mode of conception.But that hasn’t dented their excitement. “I am very excited to be a mother. Zahad wants the baby to call him ‘father’. It has been a bit heart-wrenching to see the reactions of society. But we are used to such bullying. We would love to get some support from the government,” Ziya says.Zahad adds, “We knew negative comments would come. All I have to say is, ‘it’s my body, my choice’. We don’t care what others think. We will continue to live life on our own terms.” medium nocaption97760033Healthcare supportZahad and Ziya’s pregnancy is believed to be the first case of a transgender couple giving birth to a child in India, where transgender people continue to face discrimination despite being officially recognised in 2014. While Kerala is one of the first states to establish a welfare policy for the transgender community, taboos on pregnancy and birth culture in the society prevail here too.Transgender-appropriate health services, in particular, have proven to be a challenge.Dr Jyothi Chandran, head of the department, obstetrics and gynaecology at the Government Medical College, says the couple and the baby have been receiving free medical care at the hospital. Since Zahad had already undergone a mastectomy as part of his transition journey, the baby is being fed from the breast milk bank at the college. “But this support is a local initiative,” Chandran says. (Kerala health minister Veena George has since directed free medical treatment for the family.)Chandran adds, “It is crucial to educate and offer transmen cervical pap smear and HPV [human papillomavirus] screening, mammogram, STI [sexually transmitted infection] screening, immunisations, as well as counselling against unwanted pregnancies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. Similarly, transwomen need breast examination and mammograms after prolonged hormone therapy, and also STI screening, HIV pre-exposure and anal examination for prostate evaluation. And though being a trans person is not a psychiatric condition, they require mental health care.” medium97800236Gender activist Adam Harry, a close friend of Zahad and Ziya, says, “We need to start working on the limitations transmen find in accessing gynaecologists. Transmen need dignified healthcare services provided through the public healthcare system, which should be affordable to everyone. Language, terminology and documentation are also vital when it comes to making reproductive healthcare trans-friendly. Adequate training to medical health professionals and awareness campaigns to mitigate transphobia are a must,” he says.Dr Aqsa Shaikh, a transgender doctor and associate professor at the department of community medicine, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi, says that despite giving legal recognition to transgender people in India through a legislation –Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act, 2019 – aspects of sexual and reproductive health have not been covered. “The legislation does not speak about the right of trans people to get married, to have abortion, to have surrogacy or to use artificial techniques. In fact, two laws that came after the Transgender Act – Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021 and Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 – have excluded transgender and non-binary persons,” she says.“Another legal aspect, when it comes to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy amendment, the Supreme Court said that the word ‘women’ in the interpretation of MTP Act will include all persons including trans persons, not just pregnant persons. This has to be strictly implemented. Dignified healthcare service is one of the basic needs of a citizen sans gender,” she says firmly. medium97800917In addition, monetary support is crucial. Harry says, “Kerala has been offering financial support for gender-affirmation surgery. I think the state should also offer financial support to trans parents for at least a few months.” Take Zahad who was working as a cashier at a supermarket in Kozhikode. He had to quit his job during the first trimester of pregnancy because of the risks. The couple is currently surviving on the income of Ziya, who is a classical dancer and tutor.For now though, despite all the challenges, Ziya and Zahad are focused on bringing up their child in an inclusive manner. “The child’s first education starts from the parents, so I am not worried about the child being born into a transphobic society,” Zahad says. Ziya adds, “We will create a healthy atmosphere by breaking all the stereotypical gender roles.”Also read: Meet the middle-class families who support their trans children