Introduction: The study is a qualitative exploration of breastfeeding and maternal touch with new mothers who are survivors of childhood sexual assault (CSA) by a family member. / Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the experience of breastfeeding in mothers with a past history of CSA perpetrated by a family member. / Methods: Using an interpretive framework, eleven women were interviewed with an in-depth semi-structured method and the transcripts coded and analysed by themes. All participants were new mothers who volunteered in response to a community based advertisement. Each woman self-identified as being sexually abused as a child by a family member. / Results: Significant themes that emerged about breastfeeding were the importance of breastfeeding to the maternal-infant relationship and infant development. Other more challenging themes included detachment and dissociation, exposure and control, lack of pleasure, and splitting of the roles of the breasts into maternal or sexual objects.During the course of the study maternal-infant touch was raised as an important theme associated with body boundaries between the mother and her child and related to the mother’s past CSA experience. Baths and nappy changes were two areas in which some mothers encountered difficulties associated directly with their CSA. Some participants encountered difficulties associated with their healthcare. These were largely associated with the participants’ lack of control in the professional encounter and intimate examinations. Baby examination was also problematic with women reporting being concerned about their ability to protect their children within the professional encounter. / Conclusion: Many participants described breastfeeding as a positive experience which enhanced their bonding to their babies. They faced challenges as CSA survivors due to the duality of the breasts as sexual and maternal objects. Touch and maternal-infant boundaries emerged as important themes after CSA
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245308 |
| Creators | Coles, Jan |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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