UK Hospitals Replace Words 'Breastmilk' and 'Mother' to Ensure Trans Inclusion

The instruction comes from the decision to introduce an official gender-inclusive language policy for its maternity services department. Although the latter will also be renamed - into "perinatal services".

Vocabulary changes will also mean that the terms "woman" and "father" will be pushed down the list by "woman or person" and "parent", "co-parent" or "second biological parent" respectively.

The maternity department of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals shared the news on its Twitter page.

​The post triggered a variety of comments, some supportive, while others completely opposing the changes.

Feminist sociologist Dr Ruth Pearce called the innovation “absolutely groundbreaking work on trans inclusion in perinatal services.”

Other comments however were less approving, as one user said: “Just when you think it can't possibly get any crazier...voila!” 

​The BSUH staff have been referred to a language guide to make sure they are using the correct terms during their shifts. 

BSUH said their approach has been carefully considered “to be inclusive of trans & non-binary birthing people without excluding the language of women or motherhood.”