The Father Who Gave Birth to His Baby | Extraordinary Pregnancies

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:10]The Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, provides specialist care for pregnancies so rare that they can't be treated anywhere else in the country.

[00:00:21]Pregnancies like 22-year-old Sheree Pelas.

[00:00:25]>> Where's most of the movement?

[00:00:26]>> Um, everywhere.

[00:00:30]Sheree is a medical miracle. She is 36 weeks pregnant and carrying an averagesized baby despite being severely disabled and the size of a six-year-old.

[00:00:44]Sheree was born with arthroriposis.

[00:00:47]She has disfigured arms, clubbed feet, and limited movement in her joints throughout her body.

[00:00:55]She endured a childhood of endless correction surgery which left mental as well as physical scars and an extreme phobia of going under general anesthetic.

[00:01:06]>> I've had 22 operations. At 18, I was allowed to say no more surgery. The only other operation I'll have is having a C-section.

[00:01:17]Her disability means she requires aroundthe-clock care from her husband.

[00:01:23]>> Chris gets me dressed every morning, gets me out of bed. Uh he does my hair, gives me a shower, um gives me breakfast.

[00:01:36]>> I am a full-time carer for my wife, which I don't classify myself as carer, and I love doing everything I do for her. So you going to brush my hair now?

[00:01:47]>> Yeah.

[00:01:48]>> Okay. My arthogosis affects me with muscle tissue. So that means when I try and bend my elbows or knees that there's no there's weak muscle tissue there. So this arm doesn't even bend itself.

[00:02:06]Someone else has to actually bend it for me. So Chris Yep. in my left arm is going that a little bit.

[00:02:19]>> Even in the only hospital of its kind in Australia, experienced doctors like anesthetist Phil Poppam have never seen a case like Sheree.

[00:02:28]>> Shereice medical condition is rare. In the medical literature, there's a handful that have actually gone to term and have actually delivered babies. And our access to her circulation with drips and things is very limited. She'll need a very specialist form of drip uh performed probably by our radiology colleagues to actually put a special drip in.

[00:02:51]The procedure to insert the special drip called a pick line won't be easy for Sheree. She has a phobia of surgery which began as a child when she died on an operating table and was resuscitated by surgeons.

[00:03:06]>> I don't really remember much cuz I sort of walked out. I know Shere's going to be fine. I know she's stressing out hardcore, >> but she's going to come out >> to be a beautiful mom with a beautiful baby.

[00:03:20]>> Why don't you just sit up there for now and I'll go grab some clothes.

[00:03:25]>> Even for the most experienced staff, Shere's case is a first, pushing their knowledge and skill to its limit.

[00:03:33]>> Ideally, normally what I would do is I pop the arm out nice and straight. I need to be able to run a straight line in. Can you turn your um out that way?

[00:03:44]>> Not really.

[00:03:44]>> You can do it.

[00:03:48]>> It's pretty tight. Can you put your arm up?

[00:03:51]>> Um, >> can you bend your bend your elbow? Does your arm go up now?

[00:03:59]>> That's as far as it goes.

[00:04:01]>> Her C-section is scheduled in 3 days time. remaining calm until then will take every ounce of courage she has.

[00:04:15]In South America, two soontobe parents, Fernando and Diane, are preparing for the birth of their baby boy.

[00:04:24]Mom to be Diane is savoring every moment.

[00:04:35]But this is a truly extraordinary pregnancy because it's Fernando, the father, who's giving birth and what's believed to be Ecuador's first ever transgender pregnancy has caught the attention of the world.

[00:05:06]expectant dad Fernando and his fianceé Diane are both transgender.

[00:05:14]Fernando was born Maria Quo and made the transition to become a man aed 19 to the shock of his mom Maria.

[00:05:41]Diane was born Louis Benedictto and made the switch from male to female when she was 23.

[00:05:58]Fernando and Diane took hormone injections as part of the transitional process, but they kept the reproductive organs they were born with.

[00:06:29]The couple conceived naturally with Dian's sperm, making her the biological father.

[00:07:03]Fernando and Diane are prominent activists and see their pregnancy as a statement. In the fight against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inequality.

[00:07:41]Fernando and Diane aren't the only ones protesting. There are many who don't want the birth of their baby to happen.

[00:07:49]They've been criticized, harassed, and even faced death threats.

[00:08:09]Fernando and Diane are fighting for a better world. But behind the protests, they're just like any other couple, hoping their unborn baby is safe and a medical complication to be investigated at their next scan. could change everything.

[00:08:33]>> In San Diego, California, brothers Owen and James are getting to know their new baby brother, Damian.

[00:08:41]>> A so sweet little baby.

[00:08:44]>> He likes it.

[00:08:47]>> Damian's almost a month old now. Um, things have been going really well with him. He's a really good baby. The boys are both loving him.

[00:08:57]>> But Damian won't be the youngest sibling for long. Mom Rose is expecting another son in just 11 weeks.

[00:09:05]>> I'm 29 weeks now and Damian is now 8 and 1/2 weeks >> because this is a very modern family.

[00:09:15]>> This is the daddy cam >> with one dad >> multitasking >> and two moms. Yes. And >> they're like, "Yeah, what do you know about multitasking?"

[00:09:25]>> Right.

[00:09:26]>> Yep. Nothing. I suck at it.

[00:09:29]>> Buddy, Rose and Lauren are in a poly triad relationship together.

[00:09:34]>> We're polyamorous, whereas if we were sister wives, that would be polygamy, >> right?

[00:09:40]>> Which that's not what we are.

[00:09:43]>> Buddy and his wife Rose had Owen and James before Lauren joined their relationship.

[00:09:50]Two months ago, Lauren gave birth to Damian, Buddy's third child.

[00:09:55]>> Since having Damian, just overjoyed, like hap so happy that when I talk to him, I'll cry sometimes just telling him how much I love him.

[00:10:02]>> I don't know. It's been fun having another kid, seeing another, especially seeing what he looks like with another person. It's been really awesome.

[00:10:10]>> He's got black eyes.

[00:10:13]He's got black eyes.

[00:10:15]>> Is that what color you see right now?

[00:10:16]>> Yeah. It's really cool to look at him and see Lauren and Buddy, the two people that I love. So, that's really cool. And he totally feels like my son. So, that's awesome.

[00:10:31]>> With Rosy's baby boy on the way, their family ties are about to be put to the test.

[00:10:37]>> I wish they were closer together and you'd be not so >> not so Yeah.

[00:10:44]>> She doesn't want to be pregnant anymore.

[00:10:45]She's just like, "Oh, I still have two months." But, uh, it's definitely a new feeling having uh just having had a kid and then having another another one on the way. It's I mean, it's just like it's like that doesn't stop the whole pregnancy thing.

[00:11:08]In Ecuador, pregnant father Fernando and his fianceé Diane are hoping today will bring good news.

[00:11:25]>> Their last scan revealed their baby had its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. Today, they're hoping things have changed so Fernando can have a natural birth.

[00:11:37]in the way of singing.

[00:11:40]>> It's not the news Diana and Fernando wanted.

[00:12:19]At the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, doctors have finally managed to insert a pickline into Shere's arm.

[00:12:27]Now everything is set for her C-section in 3 days.

[00:12:32]>> How you feeling?

[00:12:33]>> Yeah.

[00:12:34]>> Chair. Excellent.

[00:12:36]>> Oh, that feels weird when I lift my >> shoulder up.

[00:12:42]>> Dr. Poppam's decision to put her under general anesthetic means Chris won't be there for the birth.

[00:12:48]>> How did it go?

[00:12:50]>> It's a terribly emotional time seeing the birth of the baby and it can be a bit too much for some people. So it's a hospital policy that dads are not in theater during surgery for a cesarian delivery if the mom's asleep. On occasions they can pass out and so on.

[00:13:05]And we've then got three patients to look after, not just two.

[00:13:09]>> The only scary thing we're struggling with a bit at the moment is sharing the waking up situation.

[00:13:14]>> Indeed, the doses of drugs that we give can affect your breathing afterwards >> for the time that the the drugs are in your body. If when we reverse the muscle relaxing, your breathing is in some way inadequate, the safest thing is for you to go to an intensive care unit where they can maintain your breathing for a while. You're still asleep, but they actually keep you deliberately asleep >> until the drugs have worn off until your your muscle function has returned adequately >> and then they take the tube out, the airway tube, and then you're coming back to us afterwards. When she turned 18, Sheree put a stop to the corrective surgery which caused her phobia to become a mom. She'll face her fear once again.

[00:13:55]>> When I was younger, my mom and dad got told all the risks that I was sort of in the dark of that. And now that I'm the one that has to hear it, it's a lot more confronting and scary, I guess.

[00:14:19]In San Diego, polyamorous parents Lauren, Rose, and Buddy have their hands full. With a newborn, his two older brothers, and a baby arriving imminently, it's not all happy modern families.

[00:14:35]Mom.

[00:14:38]Mom. James, but dad said no.

[00:14:48]>> Rose is definitely getting a little more irritable as further along she gets pregnant.

[00:14:53]>> What are you filming me for?

[00:14:57]>> Definitely more irritable towards all of us since you got pregnant. Uh-huh.

[00:15:03]I don't know. With the boys, I wasn't irritable at all. This pregnancy has been a lot different. And it could be cuz I have two boys running around.

[00:15:13]>> Don't poke his eye on, buddy.

[00:15:16]>> I don't want to be irritable, but >> very, very irritable.

[00:15:19]>> We've all witnessed the struggle and we're >> But we know we know. It's cuz you're pregnant. It's nothing.

[00:15:23]>> It's all the hormones.

[00:15:25]>> Don't get over.

[00:15:26]>> It was an accident.

[00:15:27]>> It's okay, James. It was an accident.

[00:15:29]>> Accident. It's okay.

[00:15:31]>> You don't hit me any better.

[00:15:38]>> It's been a tough few months. Now, with Rose's baby due tomorrow, the family's child rearing challenge is about to reach its climax.

[00:15:48]>> How are you feeling?

[00:15:49]>> I'm excited.

[00:15:50]>> Yeah. A >> little nervous, but it's all normal.

[00:15:55]>> Three brothers are going to be here with you, Damian. And you are now officially going to be a big brother.

[00:16:00]>> Yep.

[00:16:01]>> As of tomorrow.

[00:16:02]>> And a little brother, but now a big brother as well.

[00:16:04]>> Yeah.

[00:16:05]>> At just four months old.

[00:16:06]>> Woohoo.

[00:16:07]>> Exciting.

[00:16:08]>> It's going to be interesting having two babies. That dynamic is new.

[00:16:12]>> Yeah.

[00:16:12]>> Yeah. It's going to be crazy with two, I think.

[00:16:14]>> Crazy fun.

[00:16:16]>> Yes.

[00:16:17]>> I mean, yeah.

[00:16:24]Across the Pacific, Fernando and Diane are about to make Ecuadorian history.

[00:16:30]The day a pregnant man becomes a father has arrived.

[00:16:58]at Fernando's last scan, the umbilical cord was still wrapped around his baby's neck.

[00:17:06]>> Dr. Munoz has assured them that this is a common occurrence, although he can't be sure it won't affect the baby until it's born.

[00:17:26]Okay.

[00:17:36]Fernando Fernando Fernando Fernando Come on.

[00:18:14]Tea.

[00:18:47]No.

[00:18:49]No.

[00:18:54]Mhm.

[00:19:21]It doesn't hurt too much.

[00:19:38]Doctors work quickly to unwrap the umbilical cord.

[00:19:44]If it's wrapped too tightly, it could cause complications.

[00:20:11]But something's wrong.

[00:20:18]>> Their baby is having problems breathing.

[00:20:22]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:20:24]Now they face an anxious wait for news of their newborn son.

[00:20:38]In South America, transgender couple Fernando and Diane are now parents, but their baby was rushed out of the delivery room with breathing problems before they had a chance to meet him.

[00:20:52]Knowing that many don't want them to have a baby, the couple wished to protect his identity.

[00:21:32]In the neonatal intensive care unit, Diane and Fernando's son is put into a respirator.

[00:21:59]Gracias. Mine Two hours later and Fernando is out of recovery, but doctors won't allow him to see his baby until the effects of his epidural wear off.

[00:22:54]Fernando in San Diego, California. Expectant mom Rose is about to have her C-section.

[00:23:24]>> How are you doing, Rose?

[00:23:25]>> T-minus 1 hour.

[00:23:27]>> We're over here sitting as far away from her as possible.

[00:23:30]>> Fiance Lauren and husband Buddy are an hour away from welcoming a fourth child into their poly triad family.

[00:23:38]>> So, we're here at the hospital and Ryan, I'm your mama.

[00:23:44]I'm telling you that I'm so excited to meet you. Your arrival is within the hour.

[00:23:53]Um, you're coming into a very loving home and family. You've got three older brothers already. You're the You're the baby brother, baby Ryan.

[00:24:05]Getting ready to go into the C-section room. Yay.

[00:24:09]Pretty soon, we'll bring back a baby.

[00:24:11]All right. See you later.

[00:24:19]>> Nervous. Everything going all right?

[00:24:22]Good.

[00:24:23]>> They've defied convention to redefine family.

[00:24:30]>> Now the final piece of their poly triad puzzle is here.

[00:24:37]>> All right.

[00:24:39]Happy birthday.

[00:24:42]>> Yay.

[00:24:43]>> What's this one's name going to be?

[00:24:44]>> Ryan Dutch.

[00:24:46]>> Ryan's dad.

[00:24:47]>> Yeah, he's got a lot of hair.

[00:24:49]>> Yeah.

[00:24:51]>> Dark. Does >> he look like the boys?

[00:24:53]>> He looks like him, but he looks like he's his own guy.

[00:24:58]>> Baby Ryan is Buddy and Rose's third boy, but there's someone missing from this home movie.

[00:25:05]>> Are you excited to meet Ryan?

[00:25:06]>> Yes.

[00:25:07]>> Super excited? Yeah.

[00:25:08]>> Okay.

[00:25:10]>> Why do you look so good?

[00:25:17]Oh my god. Oh my god. He's so small.

[00:25:21]>> I know.

[00:25:23]>> Hi.

[00:25:25]Your mama still hair. I saw it in the picture.

[00:25:30]Yeah. Oh my god. I know.

[00:25:32]>> So much hair and it's all matted down and nappy.

[00:25:37]Hi, little man. He's so tiny.

[00:25:40]>> Mhm. Makes me want to cry cuz Damian was just this tiny.

[00:25:44]>> I know. And now he's like so big.

[00:25:48]>> How you guys feeling?

[00:25:50]>> I'm about to cry, but yeah.

[00:25:53]>> How about you, Rose?

[00:25:54]>> Uh, starting to feel pain, but happy.

[00:25:58]like a little potato.

[00:26:06]>> At the Royal Women's in Melbourne, Sheree and Chris's lives are about to change forever.

[00:26:12]>> Very nervous.

[00:26:13]>> I'm very You'll be right. This is small compared to one of your bigger operations.

[00:26:20]>> That's true.

[00:26:22]After a grueling 36- week pregnancy, she must now face her lifelong phobia of going under general anesthetic.

[00:26:30]>> They are coming to get me at 7 Hook and get me prepped for a big arrival.

[00:26:40]Oh, I can't believe this is happening.

[00:26:46]One woman who has seen Sheree through countless medical procedures is mom Lorraine.

[00:26:51]>> Did you actually sleep last night?

[00:26:53]>> She got more >> sleep.

[00:26:56]>> She has a lot of trauma from previous ops. I think that's what's bothering her the most is because she has passed away on the table before. A lot of her anxiety and stress comes from those previous operations in her life. And who could blame her?

[00:27:15]>> Don't worry, Sheree. I'm nervous for you, too, buddy.

[00:27:18]>> All right, let's go.

[00:27:25]>> Are you all right?

[00:27:26]>> Yeah. Y >> I don't want anything to go wrong. I've been in that situation before with Sh.

[00:27:35]Guess it's like being put on the stand again, having to relive all those memories, but for a different reason this time. To give life standing with you on Friday, >> just nervous, >> that's all here. Obviously, this isn't how she's coming.

[00:28:00]>> Sure. Sure.

[00:28:01]will be there.

[00:28:06]>> It's just the waiting to find out.

[00:28:20]You're going to be fine.

[00:28:30]Okay, go for it.

[00:28:34]>> Shere's fate is now in the hands of the medical team.

[00:28:51]>> After months of planning involving hundreds of specialists, >> hi.

[00:28:57]>> How are you?

[00:28:58]Sheree is about to undergo the C-section which will make her a mum.

[00:29:03]>> One, two, three.

[00:29:06]>> There we go. Well done, my friend.

[00:29:09]>> Carl's going to put some stuff on your um uh forehead. It's a special monitor to check how asleep you are.

[00:29:16]>> Going under general anesthetic is the riskiest part of the operation.

[00:29:22]the drugs that we inject may have an unpredictable effect and we don't actually know how much to give because whilst we could do it on a per kilo basis or a height basis or a weight basis the effects are not absolutely predictable. They're not in anybody but in Shere's case because of her size it's more difficult.

[00:29:42]>> Chin up in the air for me. Okay. This is just giving you a bit of oxygen. We're going to let you breathe on a bit of oxygen for a few minutes before we go off to sleep. Okay.

[00:29:51]for me.

[00:29:52]>> No, it'll all be fine.

[00:29:59]>> I love her more than anything.

[00:30:03]It's just Yeah, I think that's why I got so scared like cuz she's fragile.

[00:30:15]In Melbourne, Australia, Sheree has become one of only a handful of women in the world to undergo a C-section with her severity of arthroryposis.

[00:30:27]Cutting through underlying tissue towards her uterus is made all the more difficult by her tiny frame.

[00:30:36]And the team are constantly adjusting the dosage of anesthetic. Too little and Sheree could wake up during surgery. too much and she may never wake up again.

[00:31:00]>> Congratulations.

[00:31:01]>> Thank you. Hey, you got beautiful face, don't you? Hey.

[00:31:10]>> Yeah.

[00:31:15]You're chattering. I'm a dad. 2016 year new New Year's resolution is to be a dad.

[00:31:23]>> And that's amazing.

[00:31:25]>> Hayden shows no sign he's inherited his mom's condition. But Chris's dream is only half realized.

[00:31:32]>> Can't wait to show his mom.

[00:31:36]>> It's going to be amazing.

[00:31:39]Doctors are concerned about the effect the anesthetic will have on Shere's breathing.

[00:31:53]In Ecuador, Diane and Fernando have had to wait nine excruciating hours.

[00:31:59]>> The doctors have given them good news.

[00:32:02]Their baby is now breathing normally.

[00:32:07]It's been an extraordinary journey. And now at last, the father who gave birth can finally hold his baby.

[00:32:25]Their son weighs 6 lb and 4 oz.

[00:32:44]Logical father can hold the son who will change their life.

[00:33:01]In California, a homecoming for baby Ryan.

[00:33:06]Baby, >> Lauren and Rose have made it through the ups and downs of their double pregnancy.

[00:33:15]>> They really, really miss you, but they offered you to stay.

[00:33:20]>> So nice to have you back.

[00:33:22]>> Now life as a family of seven begins.

[00:33:28]>> What about me?

[00:33:30]He's the new kid on the block, but brother Damian is just four months older.

[00:33:35]>> Welcome home. You're the little little little brother.

[00:33:39]>> Yeah, it is weird how they're just in your stomach and then all of a sudden you're not there and you're like, "Oh, I'm not going to feel them kick anymore."

[00:33:45]>> Oh, I'm not worried anymore.

[00:33:46]>> Yeah.

[00:33:48]>> Oh, he just moved. Having two moms and one dad is guaranteed to cause a stir, but they're sure to look out for each other. And have two older brothers watching their back.

[00:34:00]>> Damian.

[00:34:02]Hi. Guess who's here? It's your brother.

[00:34:05]Yeah.

[00:34:09]>> Look how much bigger you are than your little guy.

[00:34:14]>> That's three times as big as Brian.

[00:34:16]>> One thing's for sure. Peace and quiet in the Sullivan house will be in short supply.

[00:34:22]>> You had to wake up, but now you're regretting it.

[00:34:28]>> Are you going to start crying now, too?

[00:34:33]>> Buddy.

[00:34:33]>> Oh, God.

[00:34:37]>> But Buddy, Lauren, and Rose wouldn't have it any other way.

[00:34:45]>> I'm proud of our family.

[00:34:48]Yeah.

[00:34:49]>> Oh, damn.

[00:34:50]>> For anybody that doubted if it's possible or if we're serious, >> take a look at us. Now, >> good job.

[00:35:03]>> In South America, another newborn is about to leave the hospital and begin life with his transgender parents.

[00:35:17]But Diane has noticed a mistake on the paperwork.

[00:35:40]Let's come.

[00:36:03]It might be an honest mistake, but it proves Fernando and Dian's fight is never over.

[00:36:10]Papa. So, mama. Mama. Papa.

[00:36:19]Safe at home. A chance for an extraordinary family to reflect on their incredible journey.

[00:36:36]They don't.

[00:37:04]No, no.

[00:37:30]In Australia, baby Hayden is 3 hours old and Chris has received the news he's been praying for.

[00:37:37]>> Sheree has come out of the operation.

[00:37:39]She's in recovery, awake. She's amazing.

[00:37:50]>> Sorry, guys.

[00:37:51]very anxious to get in there and see her. Um, we're just waiting while they do their observations and whatnot.

[00:37:58]>> Thank you.

[00:37:59]>> That's what we do. We'll come through and have a quick chat. So, >> you guys are awful.

[00:38:05]>> Well, it went That's the drugs time.

[00:38:09]>> It went well. We got through the surgery.

[00:38:12]>> Now, we got to make sure there's no bleeding, things are getting back to normal again. So, we've got one bit out the way.

[00:38:17]>> Now, we got the next bit to get through as well.

[00:38:19]>> Thank you very much.

[00:38:21]How you feeling, Sheree?

[00:38:23]>> I'm pretty happy that I'm awake.

[00:38:26]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:38:28]>> Many people had told Sheree that becoming a mom would be impossible.

[00:38:33]>> Here's your little boy.

[00:38:36]>> It's been a long and demanding 8 months, and the challenge is far from over, but now at last, Sheree can meet her son, Hayden, for the first time.

[00:38:47]>> That's your mommy.

[00:38:49]Hayden, he's so cute.

[00:38:53]>> Yes, very cute.

[00:38:56]>> That's what we made.

[00:38:57]>> Yeah, we made our miracle.

[00:39:01]>> Guys, look. You've been kicking me.

[00:39:03]>> I can't believe you fit in my belly.

[00:39:05]>> I know.

[00:39:06]>> I never imagined this guy at all. I never thought I would be able to have children, but now that I can, it's the most amazing thing ever.

[00:39:18]Well done.

[00:39:21]Next time, the woman who gave her friend the most precious gift of all.

[00:39:30]The 446 lb mom to be.

[00:39:34]>> The complication rate is offthe-wall.

[00:39:36]>> They won't live up.

[00:39:38]>> And the challenges continue for Sheree as life as a disabled mom begins. I >> have no idea what I can and can't do.