Women who have experienced sexual abuse are at a higher risk for experiencing postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder.
I was recently asked about resources for these women, and I came upon a blog called "Survivor Moms Speak Out", created by the authors of the book "Survivor Moms: Women's Stories of Birthing, Mothering & Healing After Sexual Abuse." If you or someone you know falls into this category, this site and book may be of help and/or comfort to you.
Other resources for you to consider:
TABS – Trauma & Birth Stress, an organization based in New Zealand.
PTSD After Childbirth – A Guide for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
An article about remembering sexual abuse in childbirth
The Let Go…Let Peace Come In Foundation is a newly formed nonprofit with a mission to help heal and support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide. We are actively seeking adult survivors who would be willing to post a childhood photo and caption, their story, or their creative expressions to our website http://www.letgoletpeacecomein.org. By uniting survivors from across the globe we can help provide a stronger and more powerful voice to those survivors who have not yet found the courage to speak out. Together we can; together we should; together we NEED to stand up and be counted. Please visit our site for more details on how you can send us your submissions.
Thank you for everything you do!
Gretchen Paules
Administrative Director
Let Go…Let Peace Come In Foundation
111 Presidential Blvd., Suite 212
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Thanks for posting these great resources Katherine!
There are a couple of pamphlets available – one for those who are supporting women who are
breastfeeding, and one for women who have been sexually abused and who are
having children.
Infant Feeding for Women Who Were Sexually Abused in Childhood
Assisting Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) through Breastfeeding
Thank you for recognizing Survivor Moms. We are really excited about the recent announcement from The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) that SM is the winner of the 2009 Best Book Award for its relevance, clarity, depth, accuracy and significant contribution to midwifery and women’s health.
My ex wife’s has had my child and two other children from a different marriage,?each time she had post patram sychosis, ?now my ex was abused for years seemingly by her father,.
This is now turning in to a legal issue and what I am asking is can abuse be related to post patram sychosis as my ex has had it 3 three times on the bounce,
I would also like more information regarding this if possible please.
Hello Jim. If I understand correctly you are asking if abuse in the past can play a part in having a postpartum mood disorder. The answer is maybe. Trauma in the past certainly has an effect on overall mental health. Most abuse survivors need treatment of some kind to get well. There are more resources in this post, and if you use the search box at the top of the page, you can type in “postpartum psychosis” and learn much more about what your ex is going through/has been going through.