A transgender man is sharing his unexpected pregnancy journey after becoming pregnant from a “Grindr one-night stand.”
Ash Patrick Schade, 28, was two years into his transition when he found out he was expecting in February 2020. Despite taking male hormone blockers, he became pregnant after meeting a man through the dating app Grindr.
Now, Schade and his husband, Jordan, are raising their 1-year-old son, Ronan. “It was a huge shock, but I grew to love my pregnancy,” Schade said. He also described giving birth as “one of the most masculine things” he has ever experienced.
Schade, from Huntington, West Virginia, explained that he never thought pregnancy was possible while taking testosterone and hormone blockers. “I didn’t realize I could get pregnant while on hormones, as it’s such a rare thing,” he said.
A month after learning he was pregnant, Schade met Jordan, 28, and they started a relationship. Eight months later, Ronan was born in October 2020. The couple is now raising him together with support from friends, the trans community, and their church.
Schade’s journey is far from over. After giving birth, he had chest surgery but decided to delay further medical procedures because he wants more children.
Before transitioning, Schade struggled with feeling out of place in his body. As a child, he identified as a boy and tried to hide his appearance with dark clothing. “I went by Ash and dressed in a way that made me feel more like myself,” he shared.
Schade started transitioning in 2018 but admitted he wasn’t mentally prepared to carry a baby. At the time, he was also dealing with a divorce and turned to dating apps as a way to cope.
When he decided to continue the pregnancy, he faced challenges in getting proper medical care. “Doctors didn’t want to take my case because it was high-risk,” he said.
Despite the difficulties, Schade found a doctor and had a smooth delivery. “It might seem surprising, but giving birth made me feel strong,” he said. “To me, being a man is about what you do and the impact you have on others.”
