birthing person

Birthing person - a person who is carrying a baby; in labour; giving birth. A pretty straightforward way to make the way you communicate about birth accessible to more than just women.

So I’m expanding my language when addressing a wider audience. I’ll be referring to birth partners as exactly that, as birth partners. It’s not always ‘Dad’ who is by the birthing person’s side. And while we’re at it, let’s talk about chest- and breastfeeding babies; we can use both of these terms, one doesn’t replace the other. Or maybe you’ll choose to use the word bodyfeeding. There are so many reasons why using the word ‘breast’ might feel uncomfortable to some people - not limited to transmen, parents using a supplementary nursing system and survivors of abuse who may all prefer to use chest.

This is something we can all do, with relative ease, to make the birthworld a safer, more welcoming space for all pregnant people and their families: we can expand our language. I am not, and never will be, talking about replacing the words mother, woman & breast. When I know that language applies to you, that is exactly how I will talk to you about pregnancy, birth & parenthood. However, when I am speaking to everyone, I will use language which includes everyone.

We cannot claim to be inclusive, or to be feminist, if our words to everyone only serve women.