What is Trauma Informed Care for Breastfeeding?
Updated: 3 days ago
Breastfeeding is a holistic process. This means that in involves not just your body, but your emotions, your experiences, and your state of mind. For some people, this may mean unpleasant or uncomfortable past experiences that make the idea of nursing seem significantly more challenging. Being touched in more intimate areas like the breasts or exposed during a feeding can be triggering and uninformed care can cause more harm than good. It is an unfortunate fact that nearly a quarter of women in the United States have experienced sexual or intimate partner violence and have a need for this type of care model, whether they know it or not (Sexual Trauma: Information for Women's Medical Providers - PTSD: National Center for PTSD
Trauma informed care asks "what happened to you?" instead of "what is wrong with you?"
If something from your past affects your ability to breastfeed or parent, you can feel safe to mention that in your time with me. It will be incorporated into a care plan where possible. In my practice, this means a number of different strategies to ensure that patients feel safe and autonomous during our interactions. For example, I will ask for consent before touching you and your baby. Your exam will be conducted in such a way as to minimize exposure if it is needed at all. Often, there are ways to help mom integrate traumatic experiences through the breastfeeding experience, sometimes in conjunction with mental health work.
Trauma informed care for breastfeeding means that you can bring your whole self to your appointment. The care plan we build for you will work for your real life, whatever that needs to look like. For example, if the idea of having your breasts touched makes you uncomfortable, we could discuss a plan to help you pump your milk while still bonding with your baby and delivering as many benefits of breastfeeding as possible. Ultimately, a trauma informed care provider delivers a more conscientious and respectful appointment regardless of a patient's specific experience. As is often the case, accomodations for some end up benefitting everyone.
And it doesn't take an explanation of any kind to receive trauma informed care. If there are special considerations you would appreciate, all you have to do is tell me. You don't have to tell me why and I won't ask. In fact, I may have something to add for your comfort. If you want to talk about it, I'd be honored to listen and do my best to help you integrate your experiences with your new work of breastfeeding. Life can give you a lot of weight to carry, but it's my personal experience that you do yourself a disservice allowing the hurt of your past to rob you of new and beautiful experiences now.
If you're interested in experiencing a different type of care for your breastfeeding journey, please book time for us to meet. I can't wait to talk to you so I can help your nursing and parenting experience be more comfortable and enjoyable.
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