The prevalence and severity of childbirth-related PTSD and war-related PTSD in exclusively breastfeeding and nonexclusively breastfeeding Ukrainian war-affected mothers: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have indicated a marked increase in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the Ukrainian population following the full-scale Russian invasion. Given the conflicting data regarding PTSD and its relationship with breastfeeding, this study aimed to evaluate the profiles of childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD) and war-related PTSD in breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding Ukrainian mothers. METHOD: = 59), were recruited after the outbreak of the war. The participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the City Birth Trauma Scale, and the Impact of Event Scale. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups in war-related PTSD and CB-PTSD scores. One third of exclusively breastfeeding and 40% of nonexclusively breastfeeding mothers met the criteria for war-related PTSD diagnosis. Moreover, 34% of exclusively breastfeeding and 31% of nonexclusively breastfeeding participants experienced childbirth as a traumatic event. Mothers who exclusively breastfed reported a higher prevalence of dissociative and emotional detachment symptoms for CB-PTSD and lower avoidance for war-related PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Ukrainian mothers continued breastfeeding despite the high prevalence and severity of war-related PTSD and CB-PTSD symptoms. The findings of this study emphasize the critical need for trauma-informed care in perinatal and lactation settings. The mother's decision concerning infant feeding may be associated with her coping with the actual war situation and the individual profile of PTSD symptoms. Breastfeeding support for war-affected mothers should take the mother's trauma history into account. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).