Help & information, for mums, from mums in the Ilkeston area

Cradles recognises that not every woman who is a sexual abuse survivor will want to breastfeed. These links are provided to give information to those who do.

http://www.pandys.org/articles/breastfeeding.html General article looking at some of the difficulties survivors may face during breastfeeding, and suggestions for dealing with them.

http://www.secasa.com.au/index.php/survivors/2/379 General article for survivors who have decided they want to breastfeed.

http://www.breastfeed.com/breastfeeding-problems/illness/breastfeeding-after-sexual-abuse Article looking at some of the emotions survivors may go through as they approach motherhood and breastfeeding, and the factors which may affect individuals' experiences, including survivors' stories.

http://www.llli.org/nb/nbabuse.html This page from La Leche League website has several articles, including detailed survivors' stories.

http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2009/01/breastfeeding_r A survivor's story.

http://www.ilithyiainspired.com/2009/03/breastfeeding-healing-from-sexual-abuse.html Another mother's healing journey.

http://one-of-those-women.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/breastfeeding-as-survivor-of-sexual.html Blog which challenges the assumption that abuse survivors can't breastfeed, including a mother's own story.

http://theleakyboob.com/2011/04/sexual-assault-awareness-and-breastfeeding-advocacy/ LOTS of survivors' stories here, showing how experiences differ between individuals.

If you are a sexual abuse survivor and need someone to turn to for support, try:

Rape Crisis www.rapecrisis.org.uk/ Tel. 0808 802 9999 Daily 12:00pm-2:30pm and 7:00pm-9:30pm

The Survivors Trust www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ Tel. 01788 550554

Victim Support Tel. 0845 30 30 9000

NAPAC (The National Association for People Abused in Childhood) http://www.napac.org.uk/