The Impact of Sexual Violence and Trauma on Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding plays an important role in the healthy development of the infant and in strengthening the mother–child bond. However, this process is not equally simple for all mothers. In particular, women who experienced sexual abuse in childhood may face serious physical and psychological difficulties related to breastfeeding. They may sometimes experience feelings of alienation from their bodies, sensitivity to touch, or shame. Breastfeeding can awaken a mother’s internal childhood traumas. Breastfeeding is not only a means of nourishing the infant but can also provide an opportunity for the woman to reconcile with her body, heal from her traumas, and strengthen her relationship with her baby. For such healing to occur, it is essential that both medical personnel and society demonstrate special sensitivity toward such women.

Karen Wood and Penny Van Esterik conducted a study to investigate the breastfeeding experiences of mothers who had been subjected to sexual abuse. Six mothers participated in the study, and each took part in an in-depth interview lasting approximately two hours. The results of the research indicated that these women often experience feelings of shame toward their bodies, particularly regarding their breasts. They are sensitive to touch, and both touching their bodies and the baby’s contact with the breast during breastfeeding can evoke negative emotions. These emotions may also manifest during sexual intimacy. Additionally, unauthorized or sudden touch by medical personnel can trigger traumatic memories in these women. The study also emphasizes that providing both physical and psychological support to such mothers during breastfeeding is essential. Medical personnel should be aware of their past experiences and adopt a more sensitive and careful approach in their interactions.

Another study indicates that the duration of breastfeeding among mothers who experienced sexual abuse in childhood is shorter compared to other mothers. However, researchers emphasize that trauma alone is not the only factor that hinders the continuation of breastfeeding. Social and economic factors, in addition to trauma, also influence this difficulty. For example, mothers with lower income (those with higher income can access psychological support and specialized therapy services, while mothers with limited financial means often cannot), limited education (mothers with higher education are more informed about the benefits of breastfeeding, ways to cope with trauma, and available support resources, whereas women with lower education often lack this knowledge and are less aware of ways to obtain support), or limited access to healthcare services (women living in large cities with better social resources can consult both psychologists and lactation consultants, while in rural areas or among families with limited means these services are either unavailable or inaccessible) may find it more difficult to continue breastfeeding. In other words, the study shows that both the psychological effects of trauma and social–economic challenges jointly contribute to shorter breastfeeding duration.

The authors of the study note that extending the duration of breastfeeding is not sufficient to provide only psychological support. Offering mothers broader financial and social support, increasing educational and awareness programs, and facilitating access to psychological and medical services can help ensure that breastfeeding continues for a longer period.

We would like to share several points that may be helpful for mothers experiencing this situation:

• Acknowledge your feelings: It is normal to feel unable to breastfeed or uncomfortable during breastfeeding. First, you should acknowledge your feelings.
• Try to communicate openly with medical staff: You can inform the medical staff or lactation consultant assisting you during breastfeeding about your past trauma. Sometimes, medical personnel may touch your breasts with the intention of providing support, which can trigger unpleasant feelings. Therefore, informing the staff about such incidents in advance may help. In such cases, personnel assisting you with breastfeeding can provide guidance without touching your breasts, using pictures, a doll, or simply verbal explanations to demonstrate the technique.
• Try to distract yourself: During breastfeeding, you can watch something or listen to something to take your mind off the process. You can even simply occupy yourself with your phone to divert your attention.
• Try feeding with expressed milk: If breastfeeding seems completely impossible for you, you can feed your baby with milk that you have expressed.
• Do not hesitate to ask for support: Nighttime feedings can be especially difficult for mothers in such situations. In these cases, you can keep the lights on while breastfeeding or express your milk and have a family member feed the baby.
• Try to distract the baby: As infants grow, they may touch the other breast with their hands while nursing. This can be a difficult situation for mothers who have experienced abuse. In such cases, you can try setting boundaries with the baby or using a breastfeeding necklace to distract them during feeding.

Conclusion:

For mothers who experienced sexual trauma in childhood, the breastfeeding process is more than just a biological function. It is an important stage for both their psychological healing and the establishment of a healthy emotional bond with their baby. It is essential to strengthen not only psychological support but also social and economic support for these mothers.

Author: Hajar Piriyeva