In March 2019 Wyley Simpson lifted the lid on the abuse he suffered the previous year, when he was pregnant with his son.

At a certain point in a person’s life, they might feel the urge to have a baby with their partner. But in the case of Wyley Simpson and Stephen Gaeth, the start of their parenting adventure came as something of a shock. For you see, Simpson was transitioning into a man when he received the news of his pregnancy.

A resident of San Antonio, Texas, Simpson was born as a female, before making a significant decision a few years later. After turning 21, he started to undergo treatment to become a man, and soon his body began to go through some big changes during the transition.

By the time that Simpson’s breasts had been removed in 2013, he’d already been on testosterone treatment for around 12 months. From that point, his menstrual cycle seemingly stopped, which suggested that he couldn’t become pregnant. However, everything changed in February 2018 as he and Gaeth got some surprising news.

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Simpson discovered that he was carrying a baby, despite the testosterone therapy and being told by the doctors that he wouldn’t fall pregnant. Then, a few months later he delivered a healthy little boy named Rowan. Unfortunately, though, this particular journey wasn’t without its problems, as the pregnancy bump led to a lot of abuse for the expectant parent.

Of course, parenthood can be one of the most rewarding jobs that we can take on in our lives. After welcoming a baby into the world, we are entrusted to guide them through their youth into adulthood, and that role entails plenty of responsibility.

Given all the work that comes with being a parent, some people might not feel ready for it at first. And in other instances, individuals may be fully prepared for the challenge, but can’t actually conceive. In the case of Simpson and Gaeth, though, their situation proved to be very unique.

For just over two decades, Simpson had lived his life as a woman, but he wanted to change that after hitting 21. So he kick-started the process of transitioning into a male, beginning testosterone treatment in 2012.

As a result of that treatment, Simpson’s body started to transform in more ways than one. Not only did the testosterone cause him to grow facial hair, but his periods came to a halt as well. From there, the veterinary technician then looked to take the next step around a year later.

In 2013 Simpson had an operation to remove his breasts, otherwise known as “top surgery.” After that, he continued to take testosterone for the next few years, but still needed another procedure to complete the transition. Referred to as “bottom surgery,” this would transform his female genitalia into that of a man.

While Simpson certainly plans to have that operation, he hasn’t gone under the knife just yet, however. And away from the medical side of things, his personal life also underwent some significant changes during that period as well. It all started when the future parent created an online dating profile.

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Using the Grindr app, Simpson eventually met Gaeth for a date. The latter, who plied his trade as a teacher in both dance and yoga, would go on to enjoy a number of other meetings with him. Following those dates, the pair then made a big announcement, confirming that they were an item.

During an interview with KENS 5 in September 2018, Gaeth and Simpson looked back on what brought them together. The latter said, “His happiness, his love and care and respect and acceptance [drew me to him].” As for his partner, Gaeth replied, “[Simpson’s] honesty and kindness, [he’s] overwhelmingly kind and amazing.”

On that note, Simpson and Gaeth eventually got engaged, but their lives took a really surprising turn in February 2018. As we previously mentioned, the former’s testosterone treatment had apparently halted his menstrual cycle, so his physicians informed him that he wouldn’t be able to carry a child.

In an incredible twist, though, Simpson began to show signs of morning sickness. At that point, he felt the need to try something. The veterinary technician recalled to KENS 5, “There’s no way [it was] possible, but I guess I could be [pregnant]. And of course, after four pregnancy tests, they were all positive.”

By the time it was all confirmed, Simpson was already nearly three months pregnant. Then, off the back of that massive announcement, the future parent had to make an equally big decision about the baby’s future. If he wanted to carry the child, he would have to pause his transition treatment until after the birth.

Simpson continued, “For me, personally, especially being on testosterone for six years, I would have to stop treatment if I wanted to continue the pregnancy. So that was my main scare, especially after being on it for so long. How it would affect me mentally, that was my main concern.”

Despite those fears, though, this unexpected surprise presented Simpson with an opportunity to realize an ambition – so he was willing to make the sacrifice. The dad-to-be explained, “I’ve always wanted to be a father. And even though it happened this way and wasn’t planned, I was like, ‘Let’s do it.’”

Meanwhile, Gaeth had his own doubts about becoming a father as well. Much like Simpson, he didn’t know if he was prepared for the seismic change that awaited them at the end of the pregnancy. But those concerns appeared to ease as time went on, thanks in part to their relationship.

“At first, I was very unsure,” Gaeth admitted to KENS 5. “And I just, it felt right, and it felt better as we talked about it. We did a lot of talking, a lot of preparing. We went to prenatal yoga together, we watched a lot of videos online, and figured out our birth plan together.”

With that in mind, Simpson carried their baby for the next several months, sporting a sizable pregnancy bump. But when the big day finally arrived, he and Gaeth were faced with a worrying situation. Due to the positioning of their child’s umbilical cord, the doctors needed to perform a cesarean.

Thankfully, though, the procedure was a success, as Simpson delivered a baby boy named Rowan in September 2018. Weighing in at over seven pounds, the baby eventually went home with his parents. And for his part, Gaeth’s fiancé shared their progress on social media, making frequent posts on Instagram over the following months.

Then, in March 2019 Simpson looked beyond social media and shared his story with the world. The father then reflected on everything that had happened to him and Gaeth prior to Rowan’s birth – but his appearance provoked some horrible responses from members of the public.

“It’s not every day that someone sees a pregnant man walking down the road,” Simpson told U.K. newspaper the Daily Mail in March 2019. “So we received a fair amount of abuse. I would be told that I’ll never be a man, ‘men don’t carry babies’ and everyone called me ‘it.’”

However, before Simpson and Gaeth faced down the abuse on the street, the former switched his focus back to the early days of the pregnancy, touching upon his immediate reaction once the news had been confirmed. Unsurprisingly, the veterinary technician couldn’t quite believe what was happening at first.

Simpson continued, “I was nervous [to begin with]. I was very emotional, I started crying. I didn’t know what to do. I was already worried as this was my first pregnancy. But I was also nervous because I had to deal with a lot of stigma behind me being a pregnant man.”

Simpson’s honest words didn’t end there, though. He told the Daily Mail, “Alongside receiving rude comments from other people, the pregnancy took a lot for me emotionally. Having gone through the transitioning process since I was 21 years old, having a physical baby bump was something so feminine that it messed with my head.”

Yet while Simpson had a lot to unpack in that regard, the end results helped smooth things over. He continued, “It was all worth it to have Rowan and to become a father. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.” At that point, he then made an intriguing observation about the process.

As Simpson previously suggested, he wasn’t in the best emotional state over the course of the pregnancy. In part, that could be put down to the halting of the testosterone treatment. So on that note, Gaeth’s partner admitted that he couldn’t settle into his parenting role until after the delivery.

“Once my physical bump had disappeared and I was able to take my hormones again, I felt good about everything,” Simpson revealed to the Daily Mail. “Myself and Stephan suddenly turned into a gay couple with a baby, as opposed to me being a pregnant man. And Rowan is amazing.”

Simpson credited his son for easing the toll of the previous few months, adding, “[Rowan] made all of the mental and physical pain completely worth it. Now myself and Stephan are just reveling in fatherhood and can’t wait to continue our journey as a family.”

Simpson then talked about the future, following his incredible experience in 2018. Although he’s really seeing the benefits of being a parent now, the father doesn’t want to become pregnant again. In his mind, getting his transition back on track is the biggest priority over the next few years.

“I am looking to fully transition in the future, so the likelihood of having another child naturally is unlikely,” Simpson admitted. “It was a great feeling to be able to carry Rowan, feeling him kick and going to baby scans. But for me as a person, it isn’t something I can continue to do.”

From there, Simpson then elaborated on his experience with pregnancy to conclude the interview. He added, “I don’t see myself as any less of a man because of what happened. But I just do not identify in such a feminine way as to be pregnant – so it won’t be happening again.”

Simpson’s story certainly generated a big response, as the Daily Mail article earned close to 120,000 shares online. Alongside that, it also garnered a number of comments from users on the newspaper’s website, with many offering their support to the parents. But the updates on Rowan’s family didn’t end there, though.

Simpson continued to make regular posts on his Instagram account, sharing photos of his growing son. The most recent update came in June 2019, as Rowan was pictured in an orange hat and a blue shirt. And in addition to the snap, the youngster’s dad penned a loving message about him too.

“Little RoRo is almost nine months [old now],” Simpson wrote on the social media website, highlighting his progress. “He loves laughing, belly crawling, pulling to stand. [And] he loves when you sing to him and has a new learned passion for clapping. He has four bottom teeth and two on the top.”

Simpson added, “[Rowan] loves potatoes, carrots, tofu, beans, fruit snacks, broccoli and many more. He loves to pester [the family dog]. Slow down little one, I still have not processed everything.” That heartfelt post went on to generate a big response on Instagram, earning just under 500 likes from users.

The Instagram post also garnered several comments as well, with one standing out in particular. The user wrote, “Reading this, I really can feel just how much you love your baby, and it’s wonderful, truly beautiful. I hope you and your family will be as happy as possible, cause you so deserve this.”

As for Simpson, he had to face down another personal challenge during the summer of 2019. Rowan’s father revealed that he was suffering with a long-standing eating disorder, and he had admitted himself into a specialized facility located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that July.

“I am excited, scared, nervous but I know I need this, and have some want to recover even if it is only just a tad at the moment,” Simpson wrote on Instagram. “I think these are all normal feelings. I will be spending five days a week here, six hours a day. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m excited.”