Nurses advised to swap words such as ‘breast milk’ for the more inclusive ‘human milk’

02/21/2021 at 3:34 PM Posted by Kevin Edward White

Midwives at a hospital in England were directed to no longer use words such as “breastfeeding” and “breast milk” in order to be more inclusive to trans parents.

“Human milk,” “breast/chest milk,” or “milk from the feeding mother or parent” are the more acceptable terms for midwives to use at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust in lieu of using the traditional “breast milk.”

The hospital is the first in the country to use the trans-friendly language within its maternity ward, which will now be known as the “perinatal services”

“Gender identity can be a source of oppression and health inequality. We are consciously using the words ‘women’ and ‘people’ together to make it clear that we are committed to working on addressing health inequalities for all those who use our services,” the BSUH said in a statement.

“As midwives and birth workers, we focus on improving access and health outcomes for marginalised and disadvantaged groups. Women are frequently disadvantaged in healthcare, as are trans and nonbinary people,” the BSUH said. “By continuing to use the term ‘woman’ we commit to working on addressing health inequalities for all who use our services.”

The word “mothers” on its own will also be avoided, with midwives told to use “mothers or birthing parents” instead. “Woman” will also be swapped with “people” or other inclusive language.

“We are consciously using the words ‘women’ and ‘people’ together to make it clear that we are committed to working on addressing health inequalities for all those who use our services,” the document said.

About 1% of adults in England identify as transgender or nonbinary, though more people reportedly identify as such in the Brighton and Hove area.

This article first appeared HERE.