Transgender dad:
Kayden Coleman hit headlines around the world when he announced he was pregnant – now, he’s expecting again...
“I’m excited for baby number two”
hen Kayden Coleman revealed he was becoming a first-time father back in August 2013, his story went viral. The 34 year old wasn’t your average father – as a transgender man, he carried and gave birth to his own daughter.
Now, Kayden is pregnant with his second child, and plans to co-parent with his boyfriend, Dominique, 29.
Kayden, who lives in New York, says, “It’s not every day that a dad gets to carry their own child, and I feel lucky that I’ve been able to bond with my children in this way.
“I’ve received cruel comments and a backlash for being a pregnant man, but I love who I am and I have no regrets.”
WIDENTITY
Kayden began transitioning from female to male aged 23.
He says, “Growing up, I was always going through different phases with my identity – from dressing as a goth to coming out as a lesbian, but no matter what, I never felt like I fitted in.
“When I hit puberty, I hated my breasts and wearing a bra. When I mentioned it to an ex-girlfriend, she said it was just a phase.
“But by 23, I began seeing a therapist, who helped me open up about being transgender.
She encouraged me to socially transition by asking friends to use male pronouns.
“It was a scary time – some family members rejected me, but I had to be true to myself.
“Then, in 2010, I started taking testosterone. Within the first three months, my voice dropped, my jawline changed, and I started growing facial hair.
“I was so much happier and, that year, I met my ex-partner, a man called Elijah, and we lived as a gay couple.”
Then, in August 2012, Kayden, who has not had genital construction surgery and has kept his female reproductive organs, was stunned to discover he was five months pregnant with daughter Azaelia, now six, after having to briefly stop taking testosterone – which prevents ovulation – for mastectomy surgery earlier that year.
FERTILE
He says, “Although I was able to start taking testosterone again after surgery, the hormones didn’t take effect straight away, so I didn’t realise I was actually fertile. A few weeks later, I conceived our child.
“I was exhausted with aches and pains for months and doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me.
“Then, one evening, I was lying on my stomach when I was sure I felt something inside me. I was sure it was impossible, but I took a pregnancy test. When the positive result flashed up, I was so certain it was a mistake that I took two more!”
A doctor confirmed
Kayden was 20 weeks into his first pregnancy.
“I was shocked but happy,” he says. “I had to come off testosterone, but I wasn’t worried about my body becoming womanly – in fact, weirdly, the hormones made my beard grow bigger.
“Because I’m a man, people didn’t realise my stomach was actually a baby bump, so they didn’t give up seats or open doors – they probably assumed I had a beer belly!”
DEATH THREATS
Kayden spoke out about his pregnancy to raise awareness of the trans community, and as the news went viral, he received death threats.
Kayden says, “People called me a monster and said
❛ PEOPLE DIDN’T REALISE I HAD A BABY BUMP SO DIDN’T GIVE UP THEIR SEATS – THEY
PROBABLY ASSUMED I HAD A BEER BELLY! ❜
my baby should be taken into care as soon as she was born. It was horrible.”
And Kayden faced challenges with his doctors too.
He says, “I was told I didn’t belong in the maternity ward with the women, or I was referred to as Ms Coleman, which was awful.
“I could tell even the most trans-confident doctors became uncomfortable at scans. They didn’t know what to do – some medics even suggested termination past 28 weeks, which I was horrified by.
“I gave birth to Azaelia in January 2014 and it was a pretty traumatic experience, but I was relieved to finally hold her in my arms.”
Sadly, in 2016, Kayden and Elijah split up, but the pair continue to happily co-parent their daughter.
Kayden says, “Azaelia has grown into a confident little girl. She’s happy having two dads. She’s very loved and cared for.”
Over the years, Kayden, who works as an LGBT+ care worker, became more comfortable in himself.
He says, “I didn’t feel the need to have surgery on my genitals. There’s a risk of complications, such as numbing sexual pleasure, and it leaves you with a lot of scarring – it’s not for me. I’m happy as I am.”
Last December, Kayden met dancer Dominique through a dating app and the pair hit it off immediately.
Kayden says, “We just clicked, and, more importantly, he got on really well with Azaelia.”
Then, in January, to the new couple’s surprise,
Kayden discovered he was pregnant again.
He says, “I was so tired – just like last time – so I took a test. I hadn’t been taking testosterone as regularly as I should have, so I knew pregnancy was a possibility.
SURPRISE
“I worried about telling Dominique – we’d only been together for one month. We discussed it for hours, running through all the options including abortion, but we eventually came to the decision to keep the baby and raise it together.
“Our little one is due next month – she’s a girl and we’ve already named her Jurnee.”
Kayden says his second pregnancy has been largely a positive experience, but he has faced some negativity.
He says, “I’ve been trolled again, but it’s nothing I’ve not been through before – I’m prepared for whatever comes my way. I’m just so excited for baby number two.
“As Azaelia and Jurnee grow up, I’ll explain how Daddy carried them in his tummy.
“I hope that both of my girls will be very open and accepting people, given their upbringing.
“I may not be your typical dad, but I’m happy and my children are loved. That’s what matters.”