Big fat facepalm

[Lachlann]

haha I love that a random comment from me about a seahorse is becoming a thing, I'm starting to debate a seahorse tattoo, that'd be pretty sweet

The funny part is I was about to suggest you get a seahorse tattoo in my first comment, rofl.

[Evan]

I had a whole big speech yesterday from my sister about "don't ruin this kids life, don't make it gay or weird like you" I just....don't even know what to reply to something like that. She infuriates me with her 1940's homophobic attitude. She also reckons I "made her son gay" even though he's been obviously camp and flamboyant since he could talk.

that's funny, because following her train of thought.. who was it that "made" you the way that you are? if someone doesn't want to open their mind, you can't open if for them.. unfortunately.. I know I wouldn't be strong enough to carry a child myself, so I have a lot of respect for you, and congratulations . don't bother with what other people (family included) think, there are far worse things in the world that parents expose their children to and they come out fine.. hell my daughter is 6 and she thinks it's awesome that now she has a daddy. having her out me to her teacher was... interesting, but everything no matter how big or small that you go through with them is worth it. BTW there are more men to mention besides just Thomas Beatie, what about Matt Rice and Scott Moore? 

[brainiac]

This whole seahorse thing is actually helping me in how I think of pregnancy. Not quite as scary a thought if I can still be a daddy seahorse.

And good luck with your family. I hope they'll eventually understand that this doesn't change who you are.

[DRAIN]

i too love the seahorse analogy  i'm imagining pregnant/ftm's with children getting seahorse tats as a rite of passage xD

i'm 100% sure my family would do the exact same thing if i were in your situation. ignorance is annoying 

[VampyreAri]

Seahorse! I've always loved seahorses. 😛 They're fascinating. It's definitely an awesome analogy. And it would be beyond epic if you got a seahorse tattoo.
Sorry to hear about your family being... so stuck in their tiny little box of small-mindedness. Their loss though that they can't understand it.
But congrats to you anyway!
Besides, maybe they'll come around and 'get it' eventually... Y'never know!

[Jeatyn]

FWIW it wasn't much easier being pregnant when I didn't realize that I was trans (knew I ID'd as male but didn't know it had a name or a cure at the time).  It was surreal, kind of like it wasn't really happening to me, wasn't really me, but at the same time it was.  Probably because I didn't identify with mothers, or becoming a mom, or all the other stuff that pertains to pregnant women.

I did ask my son the other day (who has always been a clingy love bug) if he missed having a 'mom' and he said no, he had me, and he loved me.  I love that kid!  (Love both kids!)


Jay

This is how I feel, it's so weird, like I know I'm pregnant....but my mind is still in denial. I've been moseying about pregnancy forums and stuff and I can't relate to any of it, they are mothers, I'm not...so it's not helpful 😛 I couldn't picture myself going to any of the classes, I'd feel like I was invading a woman's space I don't belong in.

As for that tattoo....can preggo's get tattoos? I'm all geared up for it now, be a bummer if I had to wait 😀

[Ryan]

You won't be able to get a tattoo whilst pregnant. No reputable tattooist would allow it at least.
There's a whole bunch of reasons. The shock it would have on your body being the main one. It's been known for pregnant women to faint during tattooing and there's also a risk of the shock stressing the foetus and for those later on in pregnancy, inducing labour. There's also the risk that your body will absorb the ink and pass it on to the foetus.

Seahorse tattoo will be amazing though. Maybe take the time to sort out some awesome designs for when it's all over?

[Miniar]

A seahorse tattoo... hmmm...
I might incorporate my daughter's name into that, cause there's lots of straight lines in her name, I could make that like... a part of the seahorse's shape...

This is an excellent idea, and I'm obviously stealing it!

[Jeatyn]

I thought as much, you can't do anything while you're pregnant

My seahorse is gonna end up pokemon style, I just know it

[Ryan]

Get a Horsea 😀
Being pregnant gives you an excuse to be lazy as hell!

I can see half of the forum ended up with seahorse tattoos after this 😛

[zombiesarepeaceful]

Just stay strong.
Honestly in your shoes, since I believe in abortion and all, I'd get one. But that's me. 
If I couldn't, I'd have to be honest and say I'd harm myself no doubt, to either kill the baby, or myself.
But yeah...enough sadistic comments...you can get through this.
Keep your head up. It's not the end of the world. You'll make a great dad, I'm sure. And so what if your kid does end up gay or trans? It'll just be a happier rainbow of a family, lol.

[kyril]

FWIW it wasn't much easier being pregnant when I didn't realize that I was trans (knew I ID'd as male but didn't know it had a name or a cure at the time).  It was surreal, kind of like it wasn't really happening to me, wasn't really me, but at the same time it was.  Probably because I didn't identify with mothers, or becoming a mom, or all the other stuff that pertains to pregnant women.

This. Very much this. I was in denial about being pregnant at all until month 6 when (due to severe hormone-induced depression of the 'can't manage to leave the bedroom to go get a glass of water' variety) I'd dehydrated myself into premature labor and ended up in the hospital where I was forced to acknowledge it. I ended up giving up my daughter for adoption, which I should never have done but I wasn't in a mental state to argue with the father and his mother. I have huge chunks of my memory missing from that part of my life - I blanked out the birth almost entirely. The one thing I do remember is that I couldn't handle being pregnant anymore so I induced my own labour a month early with a knitting needle. But besides that moment of clarity, the weeks surrounding the birth are a blank.

I wasn't acknowledging, at the time, that I was trans. I just knew that something was seriously wrong with the situation and I could not handle it. I don't really know what advice I can give, since I did literally everything wrong.

[Ruben]

You know, reading about all this has made me feel a little better about having kids. 🙂 I was always afraid of it, but if some of you guys have done it/are doing it, then I can too. 😀 Coz I really want kids, but I didn't think I could do it with my gender issues, but I'm looking at it in a new light. I just wonder, though, those of you who have had kids, was it pre-T? Coz thats something thats holding me back from thinking about asking my doc about it.

But, yeah, the seahorse idea has helped. xD

[sneakersjay]

Ruben, I had my kids pre-T.  For me, I don't think I could have done it after transition.  But that's me.  Also, the first thing I had done in transition was a hysto, which tells you how much I just LOVED those parts (sarcasm!).


Jay

[Crow]

Seahorse tattoo will be amazing though. Maybe take the time to sort out some awesome designs for when it's all over?

Oh, yes! As kind of a "Hey, I survived 9 months of being a pregnant guy, I deserve this," reward to yourself after it's all done. |D

Get a Horsea

Pfff, Seadra is way cooler!

[Ruben]

Oh, yes! As kind of a "Hey, I survived 9 months of being a pregnant guy, I deserve this," reward to yourself after it's all done. |D


Pfff, Seadra is way cooler!

What about Kingdra...? Yeah, 3rd stage evoloution 😉

[Miniar]

Researching the various meanings of the seahorse as a symbol and I find;

Confidence, grace, Nourishing, Fathering, Patience, Friendliness, Protection, Inflexibility, Perspective, Generosity/Sharing, High-Perception, Persistence, Contentment, Strength.

Seems like a positive symbol to me... 😉

[Crow]

What about Kingdra...? Yeah, 3rd stage evoloution

I like Kingdra, too, but Seadra is my favorite. |D

[Muddy]

My pregnancy experience was a LOT like Kyril's.

I was more or less suicidal for the duration.  Something just felt... wrong.  I didn't know what it was, and that made the misery all the more intense.
I imagine it would have been immensely different had I known I was trans, at the time.

I love my son... but I would NOT do it again.

[Jeatyn]

I can FEEL the extra womanly hormones, it's awful. I'm all weepy and ridiculous all the time, I'm coping though, so far.

I'm so very thankful for my oldest sister (different one to the one I was complaining about in OP) who's helping me out with my rent and other costs so I don't have to work while I'm pregnant, she understands that I really couldn't cope with that so she's making it as easy as possible for me.

Feel a bit of a sponging douche but it's better than losing my mind 😛