| Trauma exposure is associated with a host of negative effects for perinatal women, including increased prenatal depressive symptomatology and dysregulation of the body’s stress responses. Research suggests that trauma and its consequences are also tied to women’s ability to breastfeed, a crucial component in maternal and infant health. Cortisol is biologically relevant to the breastfeeding process, and is also associated with depressive symptoms which may interfere with women’s ability to successfully maintain breastfeeding. This study explored three moderated mediation models using data collected from a community sample of 96 women. No significant moderation or mediation relationships were found, although results indicated a significant positive relationship between prenatal depressive symptoms and prenatal cortisol awakening response. A significant positive correlation was also found between trauma and prenatal depressive symptoms, as well as a significant negative correlation between prenatal depressive symptoms and breastfeeding frequency. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed. Keywords: pregnancy, trauma, cortisol, prenatal depression, breastfeeding |