Sexual Trauma and Pregnancy: A Qualitative Exploration of Women’s Dual Life Experience

Abstract

Using a qualitative methodology, we investigated the possible connection between pregnant females' past sexual trauma experiences and current experiences of pregnancy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during the third trimester of pregnancy with ten expectant mothers with self-reported histories of sexual trauma. Participants were asked to describe their past sexual trauma experience, current maternity experience, and any relationship or connection between these life experiences. Four dominant categories emerged: (1) Negative consequences of sexual trauma, (2) Becoming a survivor, (3) Pregnancy: A new beginning beyond sexual trauma, and (4) the Integration of sexual trauma and motherhood. In addition, subsequent themes and sub-themes that emerged as a part of these categories are reported and discussed. Participants' descriptions offer clinical insight into both the maladaptive and adaptive dynamics that bi-directionally interplay between women's dual life experiences of sexual trauma and pregnancy.

The Lived Experience of Childbearing From Survivors of Sexual Abuse: “It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times”

“…As this study and past research have demonstrated, survivors’ pasts can haunt them throughout pregnancy and childbirth. The physical and psychological adaptations of pregnancy can be especially difficult for survivors . Survivors stand to benefit from having support and remaining in control of their childbearing experience.…”

‘Me and my Bump’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of pregnancy for vulnerable women

“…drug taking). Pregnancy generated hope for the future (Chase et al, 2009;Schwerdtfeger & Wampler, 2009;Pryce & Samuels, 2010;O"Mahen et al, 2011). The responsibility of pregnancy was seen in a positive light, stimulating self-caring and protective behaviour (Armstrong & Pooley, 2005;Chase et al, 2009;Maxwell, Proctor & Hammond, 2011).…”

“…Pregnancy placed physical limits upon them, and some reported feeling isolated from social support. Women who had experienced past sexual trauma described pregnancy as representing a new life, beginning, direction and hope (Schwerdtfeger & Wampler, 2009). Some felt proud about carrying their partner"s child.…”

A Systematic Literature Review of the Childbearing Cycle as Experienced by Survivors of Sexual Abuse

“…Half of the studies (n=5) focused specifically on survivors of childhood sexual abuse (Coles & Jones, 2009;Montgomery, Pope, & Rogers, 2015a, 2015bParratt, 1994;Rhodes & Hutchinson, 1994;Roller, 2011). Four studies focused on survivors of sexual trauma (Burian, 1995;Halvorsen, Nerum, Oian, & Sørlie, 2013;LoGiudice & Beck, 2016;Schwerdtfeger & Wampler, 2009). Only one study focused on women with both a history of childhood sexual abuse and with abuse-related posttraumatic stress (Seng, Sparbel, Low, & Killion, 2002).…”

“…A woman's childbearing experience can be negatively affected by a fear-mediated response caused by past trauma (Heimstad, Dahloe, Laache, Skogvoll, & Schei, 2006;Schwerdtfeger & Wampler, 2009). Research in this area has demonstrated that women who have experienced sexual abuse have higher stress levels and are at greater risk for preterm birth and more difficult pregnancies and childbirth experiences than their counterparts (Benedict, Paine, Paine, Brandt, & Stallings, 1999;Jacobs, 1992;Leeners, Rath, Block, Görres, & Tschudin, 2014).…”