A planned lecture by a U.S.-based lactation consultant who specializes in helping men lactate has drawn criticism from women's rights activists and others concerned about the focus and public funding of a breastfeeding conference in Ireland.
Jacob Engelsman, who lectures on “lactation support for gender diverse families,” is scheduled to speak at the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) conference in Galway in October. Critics argue that the conference, which receives funding from the Irish taxpayer through the Health Service Executive (HSE), should prioritize support for biological mothers and infants.
Catherine Monaghan, a women's rights activist and member of Wicklow Women 4 Women, expressed concern that the ALCI might be compromising its core mission by including a speaker whose work extends beyond infant feeding. She noted that Engelsman's previous presentations have included topics like “Inducing Lactation for Kinksters” and that he has written a book titled “Lactation For The Rest of Us: A Guide for Queer And Trans Parents And Helpers.”
"Women are entitled to boundaries, and babies are entitled to have their welfare prioritized," Monaghan stated, questioning if it was excessive to ask that "women and babies remain at the centre of a profession established to support them?"
Monaghan also raised concerns about the allocation of public funds, suggesting that any money spent on supporting male lactation is “foolishly spent” when Ireland's breastfeeding rates are already lower than in many European countries. She argued that public funding should instead concentrate on improving practical breastfeeding support for women and addressing social and healthcare barriers that lead mothers to stop breastfeeding.
Engelsman, who previously worked in the food sector before becoming a lactation consultant five years ago, describes himself as an infant care specialist, speaker, and writer. His work focuses on inducing lactation in individuals who have not given birth, including men, often through medication.
Critics have pointed to case studies in Engelsman's book that describe trans-identified men attempting to induce lactation, with one case resulting in minimal success and another leading to distress for the baby's mother who found co-nursing difficult, eventually causing the baby to refuse the male partner's attempts to feed.
While acknowledging the ALCI's duty to equip its members to support a diverse range of clients, including transgender and non-binary individuals, Monaghan asserted that "Men cannot breastfeed babies. It is not normal or healthy for a male to lactate; in fact, it usually signifies a serious medical issue like a pituitary gland tumour, thyroid problems, or liver or kidney disease."
The ALCI's website advertises the conference as providing "two inspiring days of learning, networking, and professional development" with national and international speakers. The organization states on its website that it is "not responsible for the contents or reliability of the speakers and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed by them" and that "Listing shall not be taken as endorsement of any kind."
Efforts to obtain a response from both Engelsman and the ALCI regarding the criticisms were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.