Breastfeeding, Motherhood, and Sexual Trauma: Myths vs. Reality

For some survivors, breastfeeding can become another unexpected challenge.

Some women feel that:

• Breastfeeding resembles sexual violation

• Touching their body feels unsafe

• Nurturing and abuse become emotionally confused
  

As a result, some mothers refuse to breastfeed—not because they do not love their child, but because their trauma interferes with their sense of safety.

This leads us to a dangerous myth:

“A woman who was sexually harassed will harm her children.”

This is not true.

However, untreated trauma can influence parenting styles.

Some survivor mothers may:

• Appear emotionally distant

• Struggle to respond to a baby’s crying

• Become overly controlling

• Live in constant fear that harm will happen again

  
  

These behaviors are not signs of cruelty. They are survival strategies.

Some mothers use strictness to protect. Others emotionally withdraw because closeness feels unsafe. None of this means they are bad mothers.

It means they need understanding—and support.

It is essential to say this clearly:

Women who experienced sexual harassment can be excellent mothers.

They are not broken. They are not dangerous. They are not incapable of love.

In fact, many survivors become deeply compassionate parents because they know precisely what must never be repeated.

Their children did not choose this history, but survivors often rise with remarkable resilience.

Healing requires:

• Awareness of trauma responses

• Avoiding projecting unmet needs onto children

• Entering a recovery or healing process
  

When survivors receive proper support, they often build families that are loving, safe, and emotionally healthy.

We will continue to speak openly—because this subject does not allow silence or shame.

Healing begins with truth. And survivors deserve nothing less. That's the mission of Not Guilty. We are a voice to the voiceless.

Dr. Laila Risgallah Wahba