How a traumatic birth experience can affect breastfeeding

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Giving birth can be a moment of intense joy. But for some mothers, the experience of childbirth can be distressing and can bring lasting trauma.

Birth trauma can result from both physical complications and psychological distress. It often arises when mothers feel unsupported, unheard, or out of control during labour. Research suggests that as many as one in three mothers find their experience of giving birth traumatic, and around 4% develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).