Summary
- A new guide for doctors recommends using terms like ‘chestfeeding’ and ‘pregnant person’ to be more accommodating.
- The guide suggests swapping ‘breastfeeding’ for ‘chestfeeding’ and ‘mom’ for ‘gestational parent’ or ‘pregnant person.’
- Critics argue that the new language could create unrealistic expectations for trans parents.
- The guide also recommends replacing terms like ‘father’ with ‘a member of your support team’ and ‘breast milk’ with ‘human milk.’
- The use of inclusive language is supported to avoid harm to patients and improve health outcomes.
Title: New Guidelines Recommend Inclusive Language When Talking About Pregnancy and Childbirth
Doctors and healthcare providers are being urged to use more inclusive language when discussing pregnancy and childbirth. A group of midwives and academics from the US, UK, and Australia have released new guidelines recommending the use of terms like ‘chestfeeding’ and ‘pregnant person’ instead of ‘breastfeeding’ and ‘mom.’
The goal of these guidelines is to be more accommodating to all individuals involved in the process of pregnancy and birth. Terms like ‘gestational parent’ or ‘pregnant person’ are suggested to replace traditional terms like ‘mother’ and ‘father.’ The group also recommends using terms like ‘human milk’ or ‘milk from the feeding parent’ instead of ‘breast milk.’
While these guidelines are not legally binding, they are meant to encourage healthcare providers to be more mindful of the language they use when interacting with patients. The group believes that by using more inclusive language, healthcare providers can better advocate for human and reproductive rights for all individuals.
It is important to note that these guidelines have sparked some controversy, with critics arguing that replacing traditional terms could create unrealistic expectations for some individuals, particularly trans parents. However, proponents of the guidelines argue that using more inclusive language can help prevent harmful assumptions and biases in healthcare settings.
Overall, the goal of these guidelines is to promote inclusivity and respect for all individuals involved in the process of pregnancy and childbirth. It remains to be seen how healthcare providers will implement these recommendations in their practice moving forward.
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Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health, Public Health & Prevention, Nursing