Debbie,
   I tried to email you privately but my note was returned so I will post it
publicly, though the contents are sickening, so be forewarned.
  I am a little unclear about what information linking abuse and BF you are
interested in. I am assuming you are questioning abuse inflicted upon a woman
(mother) by her domestic partner, not an abusive mother against her
breastfeeding child. My mother (Ph.D. and MSW) is a the director of a
emergency women's shelter and comes face to face with the horrors of such
battery everyday.  She is not aware of any studies linking abuse and
breastfeeding. Not that this isn't happening, but sadly, neither breastfeeding
nor spousal abuse get the high priority deserved.  I do know that for many
battered women the first incident of abuse comes during pg. A woman is at
great risk of initial abuse during a pg  (incredible, isn't it?). My mother is
aware of several women who were struck WHILE their infants were at the breast.


   Most women don't resort to shelters, most either silently endure the abuse
or turn to friends and family, never fully letting on how severe the abuse
was.  I would guess that for every one mother that turns to outside help,
there are countless who remain trapped, scared and silent. One mother
"escaped" after her husband hit her so hard while she was nursing that her
head smacked into the baby's and caused bruising on both mother and child. The
mother had sudden, intense fear for her child's safety that provided her the
courage to risk her own life in leaving her abuser. It is quite common for the
batterer to threaten to kill the woman (or children) if she were to leave, and
it does happen...all the time. According to my mother, many  women have
discontinue breastfeeding due to the insistence of the battering partner.
Peace at any cost. These men are generally incredibly narcissistic and don't
deal well with the needs of an infant on the mother's time and attention. This
could be greatly compounded by a man who believes his partner's breast are
*his*.

  It is also of interest that the breasts of battered women are often main
targets of abuse, the face is the most often struck. Punching, twisting,
pinching and biting, even cigarette burns to the breasts are noted. This is
often carried out in ritualistic, sadistic terror, not simply (if it could be
simple) spontaneous rage.

  The shelter is currently working on several studies. Inspired by our
conversation, it looks like the correlation between breastfeeding and abuse
will  now also be examined. Debbie, or anyone else interested, do you have any
specific area you believe should be addressed?

Valeri Webber, LLLL
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