The Relationship Between Childhood Traumas and Breastfeeding Trauma in Women: Web-Based Survey

Women's traumatic experiences can cause physical and emotional health problems, and these problems may intensify during the postpartum period.

The study aimed to examine the relationship between traumatic breastfeeding experience and childhood traumas in women.

The study was cross-sectional and included 424 women. "Personal Information Form," "Childhood Traumas Questionnaire," and "Traumatic Breastfeeding Experience Scale" were used to collect the data of the study. The study data were collected between August 2025 and January 2026 using an online questionnaire administered via Google Forms.

Any woman who has experienced physical violence, emotional violence, verbal abuse, or witnessed/experienced domestic violence and who has experienced difficulties during the birth process (related to nipple issues, psychological changes, cesarean section, baby, milk flow, lack of milk/insufficient milk production, episiotomy, breastfeeding technique) had a higher mean score on the Traumatic Breastfeeding Experience Scale (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there were moderately significant correlations between the Traumatic Breastfeeding Experience Scale and both the level of stress perceived by women (r = 0.424, p < 0.001) and the level of comfort perceived by women (r = -0.424, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant, weak positive correlation between the Childhood Traumas Questionnaire and the Traumatic Breastfeeding Experience Scale (r = 0.203; p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that various factors related to breastfeeding and the postpartum period, as well as childhood trauma, had a 35% effect on the traumatic breastfeeding experience (p < 0.001).

Women who had previously breastfed or are currently breastfeeding found a correlation between traumatic breastfeeding experience and childhood trauma. In addition to childhood trauma, stress, comfort, and physical and psychological problems experienced during the breastfeeding process have also been identified as factors predicting traumatic breastfeeding experiences.