3,7 Mothers may experience flashbacks of their abuse either during labor and delivery or when they bring their babies to breast. Other women may not experience flashbacks but may experience a vague discomfort whenever they breastfeed.7 Cognitive Distortions. Mothers may overestimate danger to themselves or their babies, and perceive themselves as weak or helpless. 3,5 When they encounter breastfeeding difficulties, they may assume that there is nothing they can do that will help. This is a concern because postpartum can be a time when many women are vulnerable to depression.
Mood disorders can have a negative effect on how mothers interact with their babies.
Impaired Sense of Self. Mothers may manifest an impaired sense of self by having difficulty separating their emotional states from the reactions of others. 3 More typically, they may not be able to mobilize necessary social support from among their network of friends and family at a time when they really need it. Some of the most serious long-term effects of sexual abuse fall into the category of avoidance. Mothers may experience dissociation, which includes alterations in body perception, emotional numbing, amnesia for painful memories, and multiple personality disorder.