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Beyond the Abuse
Breastfeeding After Sexual Violation By Gwen Morrison
"Sexual abuse is the deepest violation there is," says Margaret Paul, Ph.D., a noted speaker and Inner Bonding facilitator, as well as co-author of Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved by You?. "The message the girl gets is that she is just an object to be used and has no real value as a person. When the perpetrator is a person who was supposed to protect her, the betrayal runs very deep."
Paul suggests that as adults, victims of sexual abuse often have a difficult time bonding with other adults due to a lack of trust, but the bond that can be created toward your own child is an entirely different matter.
"Mothers who have been abused and do breastfeed are often extremely caring and tender with their children," says Paul. "They delight in their ability to care for a baby in a way that they themselves were not cared for. Women who have had some healing are especially cognizant of their children and greatly desire to be the parent to their children that they didn't have."
Barry Cohn Markell, Psy.D., who specializes in treating depression, eating disorders, abuse trauma, gender and/or sexuality issues and more at his private practice in Parkridge, Ill., agrees that oftentimes pregnancy and motherhood can be an instant cure for some abused women.