When You’re Pregnant and Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

23 Oct When You’re Pregnant and Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

Hey Mama! October is Intimate Partner Violence Awareness month; a time to raise awareness about the scope and devastating effects of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). You might be surprised to learn that IPV isn’t only physical violence. And also, that every year, 324,000 pregnant women are abused in the United States. That is an astonishing number!

So, firstly, let’s talk about the definition of Intimate Partner Violence. Broadly, it occurs at the hands of a dating partner, current or former spouse. It isn’t only physical abuse. IPV can be sexual violence, stalking or physical aggression. It can be one episode of violence that has lasting physical or psychological effects or many episodes of various forms of violence over a period of years.²

IPV can also vary in severity. For example, it can mean unwanted sexting from a former partner or a spouse’s verbal communication with the intent to harm you mentally or emotionally. It can mean a pattern of unwanted attention that causes you to fear for your safety. Or, perhaps it’s nonverbal communication with an intent to control you or to force you to participate in unwanted sexual touching. Intimate partner violence includes many forms and degrees of physical abuse or aggression, sexual violence or stalking. 

Intimate Partner Violence is harmful to women because its long term impact often leads to physical and mental health problems. For some women, this can mean chronic disease, pain, addictions, depression and anxiety. For pregnant women specifically, IPV is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes (poor pregnancy weight gain, infection, anemia, stillbirth, fetal injury, problems with the placenta, and low birth weight.¹   

Mama, you should know that abuse can escalate during pregnancy and postpartum. You may even be experiencing an unintended pregnancy due to birth control sabotage by your partner or coercion by your partner to become pregnant. 

Many women find it difficult or seemingly impossible to leave their abusers because they are financially dependent on them. These economic hooks make it difficult to extract themselves, and other children that depend on them, from the cycle of abuse. 

But, there is a future for you and your baby without abuse. There are support and resources in your community that can help you take the first steps. Text START to 88788. Or call or visit National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233. 

REFERENCES:

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). 2022. Intimate Partner Violence.  https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2012/02/intimate-partner-violence
2. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). October 2022. Fast facts: preventing intimate partner violence.  https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html
3. Photo by Anete Lusina: Anonymous Activist Showing Placard With Anti-Violence Inscription https://www.pexels.com/photo/anonymous-activist-showing-placard-with-anti-violence-inscription-5723325