Physical abuse while pregnant

Building Your Case: How to Document Abuse

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If you are in an abusive relationship and are in the process of taking (or deciding to take) legal action against your abusive partner, documenting the abusive behaviors of your partner can be an important component of building your case.

It’s worth noting that each state has different laws about what evidence and documentation can be used in court. Speaking with a legal advocate in your state might better prepare you for your unique situation (our advocates at the Hotline can help locate a legal advocate near you). According to WomensLaw, in most states evidence can include (but is not limited to) the following:

Verbal testimony from you or your witnesses
Medical reports of injuries from the abuse
Pictures (dated) of any injuries
Police reports of when you or a witness called the police
Household objects torn or broken by the abuser
Pictures of your household in disarray after a violent episode
Pictures of weapons used by the abuser against you
A personal diary or calendar in which you documented the abuse as it happened

Below are a few actions you can take to create documentation, if you are able to or feel safe doing so:

Visit the doctor.

More and more, doctors and gynecologists are trained to recognize signs of abuse. Your health care provider could also be a safe resource for disclosing the abuse. If you’re visiting a doctor for an injury, ask them about safe ways they can make notes about the abuse — ex. Some can write “cause of an injury” without it having to go to the police.

Consider outside documentation.

Do you have a trusted friend, coworker or family member who knows what’s going on and would be willing to help? There are many ways they can help document the abuse — whether that’s a coworker making note of times your partner calls you at the office, or a friend holding your journal at her house.

Create a stalking log.

If your partner is stalking you, creating a stalking log can be very helpful to your case. The National Center for Victims of Crime’s Stalking Resource Center has examples of stalking logs (in PDF and Word formats) as well as additional information on stalking.

Learn more about police reports.

ex. Like filing about a lost bike. Ask, “Hypothetically, if there was something that was happening that I would want to report…”

Always ask questions. Call your local police department’s non-emergency number and find out about the protocols and procedures of filing a police report.

This can help you prepare for filing a police report if you need to, which creates a paper trail of the abuse.

Take pictures.

A digital camera or your phone camera may not always be safe. Consider getting a disposable camera. Another option is for someone else to take the pictures and keep them for you.

Let it go to voicemail.

Is your partner calling over and over? Let it go to voicemail once and save the voicemail.

Save digital evidence.

Do you have a smartphone? Most have the “take a screenshot” option. Thirty missed calls from your abusive partner? Take a screenshot of that. Threatening texts? Instead of responding to them, take a screenshot of them. These screen shots get saved in your images folder, so remember to send them on to a friend and delete them. If your partner sends threatening emails, don’t respond to them, but consider saving them in a folder in your inbox.

If you’re not sure if documenting your abuse would be safe, always go with your gut. It’s very important to keep in mind that you are the expert on your situation, and what works for one person may not be a safe idea for another person.

We are not legal advocates at the Hotline, but we are able to offer support and refer you to the local or state resources that might be helpful to you.

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Domestic violence in pregnancy | BabyCenter

Domestic violence – also known as intimate partner violence – involves a partner physically, emotionally, or sexually abusing the other person in their relationship. Domestic violence in pregnancy can not only ruin a time meant for celebration, but it can be dangerous and deadly for the mom and her baby. Though it may feel devastating and difficult, getting help if you think you're experiencing domestic violence is essential. It's not your fault, and you can make a new life for yourself and your baby with the right support.

How common is domestic violence in pregnancy?

Unfortunately, domestic violence in pregnancy is more common than you might think. According to the CDC, more than 300,000 pregnant women in the U.S. experience intimate partner violence every year. One in six women experience abuse for the first time during their pregnancy.

Beyond pregnancy, about one-third of women in the U.S. report having been sexually, physically, or emotionally abused by a spouse or partner at some point in their life. While it's also known as intimate partner violence when it occurs in romantic relationships, domestic violence can also be abuse by any family member. Both heterosexual and same-sex partners can experience domestic violence.

There is no "typical" abuse victim. Domestic violence doesn't discriminate: People of all ages, races, religions, nationalities, educational backgrounds, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic groups can be victims of abuse. Often abuse victims don't report the abuse because they find it hard to admit it ever happened, or they blame themselves.

Domestic violence in general is a leading cause of injury to American women between the ages of 15 and 44. On average, three women die every day in the U.S. as a result of domestic violence; in around 70 percent of those cases, the death wasn’t the first time the aggressor had physically assaulted the woman.

It isn't easy to admit or accept that the person you love – the parent of your child – may be abusing you. Even though it's extremely difficult, it’s essential to take every sign and signal of aggression seriously and to act quickly to help yourself and your child. These statistics prove that you're not alone – and that domestic violence is serious.

Domestic violence is a criminal offense in all 50 states. The passage of the Violence Against Women Act helped create tough federal laws aimed at prosecuting offenders and generating funding for programs for victims of violence. Since then, many states have developed additional laws meant to protect people from intimate partner violence, but there's still more work to be done.

Is domestic violence always physical?

No. Domestic violence can also involve behavior that causes psychological harm or attempts to maintain power and control through intimidation or coercion – this is commonly known as coercive control. Name-calling, humiliation, constant criticism, attempts to isolate someone from friends or family, extreme jealousy, restriction of personal freedom, tight control of family finances, and threats of physical harm are all signs of an abusive relationship.

If a person feels controlled by their partner and lives in fear, they're a victim of domestic violence. Even though emotional abuse doesn’t leave physical scars, its effects can still last a long time. And abuse doesn't have to happen daily or even weekly to be classified as domestic violence: It only takes one instance to cause significant physical and emotional wounds.

These questions may help you determine if you're in an abusive relationship:

Does my partner insult me or say things that will make me feel bad about myself?
Has my partner ever injured or caused pain to any part of my body?
Has my partner threatened to hurt me, my children, or themselves?
Has my partner led me to believe it’s my fault that they're hurting me?
Has my partner tried to blame me for things that I know aren't my fault?
Is my partner becoming more aggressive and violent over time, not less?
Has my partner promised to never hurt me again, then broken that promise?

For a more detailed list of signs of abuse and questions to ask, visit Violence Against Women, a site maintained by the Office on Women's Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Can my pregnancy reform an abusive partner?

It's very unlikely. Experts say that pregnancy is more likely to have the opposite effect on an abusive partner. Even if your partner seems to react positively to the news that you're pregnant, there's no guarantee that violence won't erupt again at some point.

If an abuser strikes their partner once, they're likely to do so again. Stress during pregnancy can be common, and it's a common trigger of domestic violence.

Even if your partner seems excited about your pregnancy and promises to change, good behavior now is not always a prediction of what will follow.

Abuse often follows a specific pattern: Tension builds, the person becomes violent, and then there's a honeymoon phase as the abuser tries to woo back their partner or make up for the abuse by being loving and gentle. The cycle of abuse begins again later, and often the violence escalates with every incident.

Often times, abusers often blame their victims, even in the face of an apology. An abuser might say, "I'm sorry I got so angry, but you're always pushing my buttons," which makes the victim of violence feel like it may be their very own fault, when it isn't.

What are the effects of domestic violence on babies?

Abuse is dangerous not only to you, but also to your baby, especially if you're hit in the abdomen or pelvis. Studies have shown that domestic violence in pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, low-birth-weight babies, fetal injury, and death.

Another risk to you and the baby comes from your abusive partner limiting or preventing you from accessing prenatal care, including going to appointments for both routine visits and for problems as they arise. (Abusive partners may also limit where and when you can drive, and may cut off access to items such as money and insurance cards.)

Living in a stressful situation is also potentially harmful to the mother and their baby. High levels of stress during pregnancy over longer periods of time can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure, both of which can harm the baby and lead to premature birth. Finally, depression and anxiety during pregnancy as a result of abuse can lead to catastrophic consequences if left untreated.

The situation isn't likely to get better once your baby is born. At that point, your child may become a victim as well. Research shows that child abuse occurs in anywhere from a third to more than 75 percent of families in which a partner is also being abused.

Even if the child isn't abused directly, studies show that children who witness one adult abusing the other within the home are at risk of becoming violent themselves or entering into a violent relationship when they grow up. They're also at high risk for depression and many other psychological and behavioral problems.

What to do if you're experiencing domestic violence in pregnancy

If you experience domestic violence while you're pregnant, it's important to immediately realize that you're in a potentially very dangerous situation and you'll need help getting out of it. Remember, this is not your fault, and you have a valid and important right to protect both yourself and your unborn baby.

Asking for help doesn't demonstrate weakness, but savviness and strength, and makes you a great mother. You may feel like if you stay, you might get hurt again, but if you leave your partner, you might be pursued. It may seem like a seemingly impossible situation, but there are ways to get help.

Call 911 or the local police department immediately if you ever fear that your partner is about to hurt you.

Here are some other steps you can take:

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or TTY for the hearing-impaired at (800) 787-3224. They can provide confidential crisis intervention, counseling, and referrals to local resources. You don't have to give your name or any identifying information. You may also be able to talk to them about emergency strategies you can use if you decide to leave or find yourself in an emergency situation.
Let your healthcare provider know your situation so you can get the help and support you need. Try to attend your prenatal appointments alone to optimize your chances of asking for help without interference from your partner. If you can't, look for a way to discretely ask for help. Some healthcare offices have put systems in place for reporting abuse. For example, some offices have started to offer a different colored marker to write your name on your urine sample cup in the bathroom – which discreetly allows women to ask for help. You could also write a brief note to your provider on the cup asking for help anyway, and then place it in the window where you usually leave your sample.
Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline's website for a list of questions to ask yourself about abuse, important safety-planning tips, and numbers to call in each state for services. You can also chat online with an advocate (in English or Spanish) every day.
Visit The Safety Zone, a site with a wealth of information and domestic violence resources.
Prepare a getaway bag with emergency resources in case you need to get away quickly. This should include a change of clothes, cash if you have access to some, your ID and any other important documents, and some food and water.
If you look at domestic violence websites at home, consider using a stealth browser and be sure to clear the memory cache and history files if you're worried your partner might try to trace what you're doing online. Both the National Domestic Violence Hotline and The Safety Zone explain in detail how to do this.

What to do if you think someone you know is experiencing domestic violence

If you think someone you know is experiencing domestic violence during pregnancy, share your concerns with them and ask how you can help. Encourage them to reach out for support and counseling. Let them know that no one deserves to be abused.

Remind them that the abuse is not their fault. Encourage the person suffering domestic abuse to talk to a domestic violence advocate, make a safety plan, and confide in their healthcare provider, who can help them access local services.

Let them know they're not alone, and try to remain nonjudgmental and supportive. Your friend has probably been on an emotional roller coaster for quite some time, and pregnancy will no doubt intensify those feelings.

For more tips on talking to a person dealing with domestic violence during pregnancy, consider these guidelines from Abuse Intervention.

Domestic violence against pregnant mothers was linked to the deterioration of the intelligence of their children

British scientists found that domestic violence against a pregnant woman is associated with a deterioration in the mental abilities of her child. Children whose mothers were abused had an IQ that was 3 to 5 percent below normal. At the same time, indicators suffered more from physical abuse of the mother than from psychological abuse, scientists write in the journal Wellcome Open Research .

Partner violence is still widespread even in developed countries. At least as far back as 2013, the WHO reported that 23 percent of women in high-income countries experienced violence. If a woman is pregnant, then not only she herself suffers, but also her child. It is known, for example, that stress during pregnancy can lead to a variety of consequences for the fetus - from preterm birth to neurological abnormalities. However, there is little research on how violence against a mother during pregnancy is related to the cognitive abilities of her child.

A team of scientists led by Richard Emsley of King's College London set out to estimate how many British women are being abused and to see how it affects the intelligence of their children.

Scientists worked with data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Of the 14,000 women who were pregnant in 1990–1992, 3,153 were selected who gave birth to one child, provided information about domestic violence, and agreed to have a child under 18 examined. The researchers assessed the level of intelligence of children using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, a multi-level test that includes testing working memory, speech perception, understanding visual information and other skills.

18.6 percent of the women interviewed said they experienced violence between the start of pregnancy and up to six years after giving birth. At the same time, 17.6 percent reported psychological violence, and 6.8 percent physical. The researchers controlled for parental demographics and socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy, and maternal depression as side variables in assessing the association between maternal abuse and child cognitive ability.

The researchers then counted the number of children with below average intelligence (less than 90 points) at age 8 in both groups. Among women who were not abused, 13 percent of children had below average general intelligence, 9.9 percent verbal intelligence, and 20.4 percent performative intelligence. Those who reported violence had 16.8, 12.1 and 25.6 percent, respectively. At the same time, physical violence, apparently, turned out to be more traumatic than psychological: from the first, children lost an average of 5.6 points compared to their peers, and from the second - 2.9 points..

In this way, scientists have demonstrated that the problem of domestic violence is still relevant in the UK and can even affect the mental abilities of the children of victims of women. However, the authors of the work note that not all cases of violence could be identified - due to the fact, for example, that women were afraid to talk about it or forgot when exactly it happened, so the real numbers may be different (most likely even more).

In 2018, scientists recorded a drop in the average level of intelligence - at least in Norway. Now there are technologies that allow you to choose a future child with the highest possible cognitive abilities based on genetic tests - however, as it turned out, they do not give a big win, and their accuracy is low. And about how intelligence is connected with other characteristics of a person, for example, appearance or love of music, we talked about in the material "Stop being clever."

Polina Loseva

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Prevention or reduction of partner violence against women during pregnancy

Partner violence against women during pregnancy is a serious public health problem. It (violence) can cause physical and psychological harm to women and can lead to pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes for newborns. It is not yet clear which interventions best keep women and children safe during pregnancy and after childbirth. Interventions that may have an impact include counseling and psychological therapy, which give women more confidence and encourage their plans to avoid violence. Referral to social workers, shelters and other community resources can also be helpful. For partners, a referral can be made to treatment programs for individuals who exhibit aggressive behavior, intimidation, and assault on their spouse.

Regular antenatal care allows medical staff to identify women at risk of violence. In this review, we included 10 randomized trials involving a total of 3417 women, of which seven examined pregnant women who were at risk of partner violence. The interventions reviewed in the studies included single brief individual counseling, case management and referral to a social worker, and multiple therapy sessions during pregnancy and postpartum. Due to the lack of data, and the different way in which outcomes are presented, we were unable to identify interventions that worked better than others. The studies focused on different outcomes and we were unable to pool the information to conclude on the overall effectiveness of the interventions. Most studies did not report whether there was any reduction in violent episodes. There was evidence from one study that the overall number of women reporting partner violence during pregnancy and after childbirth decreased for women who received a psychological therapy intervention. Several studies have looked at whether women who received interventions were less likely to become depressed after having a baby or not, but the evidence has not been reconciled. Other neonatal outcomes, such as reduced birth weight and preterm birth, were reported in only one study, and the intervention did not reduce the risk of preterm birth (<2500 g). None of the studies reported such important outcomes as stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage, maternal death, prenatal hemorrhage, and placental abruption.