The Impact of Traumatic Childbirth on Health Through the Loss of Breastfeeding
Excerpt
Please note that this chapter is in press and is subject to change prior to publication.
"Women’s experiences during birth may range through a spectrum from challenging-yet-empowering to
overwhelming and traumatic. Childbirth trauma is largely still an invisible issue. However, a growing literature
base now documents women’s possible psychological traumatization during birth (Bailham & Joseph, 2003;
Olde et al., 2006). As we understand more about the connection between birth and psychological trauma, we’
ve also begun to recognize that these traumatic experiences can influence the initiation and continuation of
breastfeeding (Kroeger & Smith, 2004; Righard & Alade, 1990; Shealy et al., 2005). This link is important
because there are numerous maternal and infant health risks associated with the use of artificial substitutes
for human milk in the first six months of life.
Birth practices, such as the use of labor pain medications, maternal-infant separation after birth, and
instrumental or operative birth can interfere with the initiation of breastfeeding, with exclusive breastfeeding,
and with the continuation of breastfeeding. Separating the impact on breastfeeding of physical trauma from
that of psychological trauma is difficult. However, to clinicians working with women who have experienced
births with many technological interventions, the role of psychological trauma is clear. I am privileged to have
had many women share their birth experiences with me. I hope that the inclusion in this chapter of some of
their voices will help increase awareness of childbirth trauma and its potential to profoundly negatively impact
the mother-infant dyad."
Full Reference Citation
Good Mojab, C. The impact of traumatic childbirth on health through the undermining of breastfeeding. In V.
Banyard, V. Edwards, and K. Kendall-Tackett (Eds.) Integrating Trauma Practice into Primary Care.
Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press (in press).
Please note that this chapter is in press and is subject to change prior to publication.
"Women’s experiences during birth may range through a spectrum from challenging-yet-empowering to
overwhelming and traumatic. Childbirth trauma is largely still an invisible issue. However, a growing literature
base now documents women’s possible psychological traumatization during birth (Bailham & Joseph, 2003;
Olde et al., 2006). As we understand more about the connection between birth and psychological trauma, we’
ve also begun to recognize that these traumatic experiences can influence the initiation and continuation of
breastfeeding (Kroeger & Smith, 2004; Righard & Alade, 1990; Shealy et al., 2005). This link is important
because there are numerous maternal and infant health risks associated with the use of artificial substitutes
for human milk in the first six months of life.
Birth practices, such as the use of labor pain medications, maternal-infant separation after birth, and
instrumental or operative birth can interfere with the initiation of breastfeeding, with exclusive breastfeeding,
and with the continuation of breastfeeding. Separating the impact on breastfeeding of physical trauma from
that of psychological trauma is difficult. However, to clinicians working with women who have experienced
births with many technological interventions, the role of psychological trauma is clear. I am privileged to have
had many women share their birth experiences with me. I hope that the inclusion in this chapter of some of
their voices will help increase awareness of childbirth trauma and its potential to profoundly negatively impact
the mother-infant dyad."
Full Reference Citation
Good Mojab, C. The impact of traumatic childbirth on health through the undermining of breastfeeding. In V.
Banyard, V. Edwards, and K. Kendall-Tackett (Eds.) Integrating Trauma Practice into Primary Care.
Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press (in press).
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| Copyright 2005-2006 Cynthia Good Mojab All rights reserved |
LifeCircle Counseling and Consulting, LLC