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Domestic abuse during pregnancy

Pregnant women are up to nine times more likely to experience domestic abuse.

Pregnancy can bring about feelings of stress, which is normal, but a violent or abusive response is not.

Some partners become abusive during pregnancy because they feel:

  • Upset because this was an unplanned pregnancy
  • Stressed at the thought of financially supporting a first baby or another baby
  • Jealous that your attention may shift from your partner to your new baby, or to a new relationship

If something doesn’t feel right in your relationship, it probably isn’t.

Ask yourself:

  • Is pregnancy being used as a weapon to abuse me about my weight and body?
  • Has my partner caused harm or pain to my body?
  • Does my partner threaten me, the baby, my other children or himself?
  • Does my partner blame me for his actions? Does he tell me it's my own fault, hit me or denies that the child is theirs?
  • Is my partner becoming more violent as time goes on?
  • Has my partner ever said things like ‘I didn’t mean it’, ‘I was having a bad day’, ‘It only happened once’
  • Am I being stopped from attending antenatal care and medical appointments?
  • Am I being refused sex on grounds that my pregnant body appears unattractive?
  • Am I refused emotional or financial support throughout the pregnancy?
  • Is my access to food, friends or family being controlled?
  • Is there the threat of being left or reported to Social Services as an ‘unfit’ mother?
  • Am I force you to work beyond exhaustion during pregnancy?

If you're pregnant and feel like you are being abused, speak to a:

  • GP
  • midwife
  • obstetrician
  • health visitor
  • social worker.

Information about you will not be shared with other services without your permission, unless there's a concern that your unborn child or other children in your family, or someone else, is at risk of serious harm.

Experiencing Domestic abuse when pregnant may lead to:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • use of drugs/alcohol
  • sleeplessness
  • reduced appetite
  • bleeding
  • waters may be broken prematurely
  • infections
  • foetal bruising and fractures
  • premature labour
  • insufficient weight gain and low birth weights
  • miscarriage
  • still birth.

All of these can cause significant physical and emotional harm to you and your unborn child.

Visit the NHS website for more information on domestic abuse during pregnancy.

EXIT SITE

Last updated: 28/11/2024 10:53

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