Pregnant 'man' gives birth to daughter in natural delivery

A woman who had a sex change operation and lived as a man has given birth to a girl, it was claimed yesterday.

American Thomas Beatie is believed to have had the baby delivered naturally at a hospital in Oregon.

Although born a woman, Beatie had his breasts surgically removed, lived outwardly as a man and legally changed his gender to male.

Once known as Tracy Lagondino, the 34-year-old claimed he retained his female sex organs because he intended to give birth one day.

'It's a human need - I'm a person and I have the right to have a biological child,' he told viewers of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Conception was achieved with sperm from a donor inseminated at home by his 45-year-old wife Nancy, using a do-it-yourself kit.

Beatie said he and his wife, legally married after the gender change, had proceeded with the pregnancy despite opposition from family, friends and the medical profession.

'Love makes a family and that's all that matters,' he said.

The couple are understood to have sold their story.