to think that if someone gives birth they are automatically female?

[sashh]

A British soldier has given birth in camp bastion.

Do news presenters have to tell us she is a 'female soldier'.

The report I've just heard said simply British soldier. Editorial standards vary.

I'd be staggered if she wasn't

Totally unnecessary to specify.

Now that would be news!

Unless it was a seahorse soldier...

D we have sea horse soldiers? Isn't it a bit dusty in Afghanistan?

Maybe she was called Loretta.

But but but... how to you not know you are pregnant? Seriously?!

unless shes had a sex change, highly unlikely, but i can think of at least one example.

Well her dh might have used the term "we" are pregnant, so he might have given birth too?

I googled seahorse soldier for some funny pictures and it came up with some rather interesting underwear

Knew and hid it to carry on serving?

EasilyBored

How does no other soldier notice? They share showers and living areas.

But then my mind thinks wierd things, like what are they using for nappies? What if she can't breast feed, I can't imagine there is much formula around.

Someone on TV was saying that it wouldn't be unusual for there to be an obstetrician there. Apparently a lot are in the army reserves and are useful in Afghanistan because they are experts at stopping bleeding.

However, it came to happen is it not one of life's little miracles that with that very harsh environment new life successfully arrived. I'm sure the medical staff who delievered and are now caring for this baby are walking around with big grins.

Eugene

Its mad but amazing. i did notice the mail called her a 'girl soldier' ffs she is a woman!

I hope its a lovely morale boost for troops and what a story for the little boy to share when he is older!

lol eugene

Also, said soldier is Fijian, not British - though she is fighting on the "British side"

Name?

Sebastian, Terry, Sandy?

I do get that being a serving soldier is immensely different from being an Afghan woman, but women are giving birth to babies in a hostile environment over there all the time. It's a warzone in a country full of civilians.

Sorry, just wanted to say that ... I do hope she is ok and I do hope the baby gets good care, but, well, if it's hard for her it can't be a picnic for the women for whom giving birth in tough conditions is part of normal life in a warzone.

But yes, at 'female gives birth'.

Agree with LRD.

I remember hearing years ago about a woman who gave birth in a tree during one of those catastrophic floods they have in Bangladesh.

I remember that, too ... yes, that was probably at the back of my mind!

I see your point and in your context the newsreader wasn't aware of this either and was merely being a bit unneccessary, but just for reference actually there are people whose bodies have uteruses, ovaries and vaginas who don't identify as female. Some such people may either identify as gender neutral or even male, but either don't wish for surgery (it has side effects and complications!) or can't have surgery for one reason or another.

What Tangerine said: that's what I was coming on to point out, too...

not everyone shows,not everyone gets sick,its easy to miss,you can have a tilted womb that makes the bump go up and under the ribs rather than growing out,on home & health channel they have a show about women having babies and not knowing,there are many reasons for not knowing.