Domestic Violence and Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a dangerous time for abused women and children. Studies show that many women report that the abuse either starts or increases during their pregnancy. Furthermore, women who were abused during pregnancy were four times as likely as other abused women to say that they experienced very serious violence (beating, choking, gun/knife threats, sexual assault).
All abuse must be taken seriously. All abuse is damaging. While not all abuse progresses to physical violence, almost all physical violence begins with emotional abuse.
Abuse during pregnancy can cause direct or indirect injury to the baby. The abuse can result in:
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
- broken bones in the baby
- preterm labour
- premature rupture of the membranes, increasing the risk of infection and preterm delivery
- hemorrhage in the baby
- low birth weight
The emotional responses triggered by abuse, such as anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and reduced appetite can have health risks for a pregnant women and her developing baby.
For more information on Domestic Violence in Pregnancy, please refer to our on-line Resource Catalogue for resources. Alternatively, if you need immediate assistance, see the abuse help lines page of your Saskatchewan telephone book for local numbers or see the Abuse Help Lines website at www.abusehelplines.org
