Domestic abuse during pregnancy

Around a third of all cases of domestic abuse begin during pregnancy. One survey found that one midwife in five has at least one mother-to-be on her books who has been subjected to domestic violence.

These are horrible statistics because domestic abuse puts not only a woman, but also an unborn child, at risk. Domestic abuse in pregnancy kills more unborn babies than gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. It increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and foetal injury (sometimes, babies whose mothers have been abused are born with broken limbs).

Why are pregnant women particularly at risk?

Some psychologists believe it's because the sort of men who abuse women do it when there's an opportunity, and pregnancy creates an opportunity becuse they feel their women are powerless to escape now they're expecting a baby.

Also, some abusers are jealous of the attention their partner gets, and they feel overlooked and ignored while their partner is pregnant.

What effect does domestic violence have on children?

Children living in a family where there's abuse feel very frightened by what's happening. They are also likely to be insecure, as their home is a volatile and unpredictable place. They will be confused, because their father may suddenly change into a different person - and then, just as quickly, back to the person he normally is.

Children will almost certainly feel stressed by what they can hear and see going on around them. They may feel very alone because they realise what's happening is a secret and not something they can share with people outside their family.

And, of course, there's always the fear that the children themselves will get caught up in the violence, or become victims of the abusive partner - in homes where the mother is being abused, between a third and two-thirds of children are also at risk of being abused.
 

Practical ways to protect your children

There's often a conspiracy of silence in a family where there's domestic abuse occurring, as though to deny it would make it go away. But however bad things are, children usually welcome the chance to talk about them. So try to be open and honest with your kids, without frightening them.

Mothers sometimes feel it's best for their children to keep the family together, so that their kids have a father. But children feel more secure with one parent in a stable environment than with two in unstable and violent surroundings.

If you move to a refuge, tell the children as soon as it's safe to do so (this may not be possible before you actually move out).

Refuges are often very positive places for kids - they give them an opportunity to meet and mix with children who have had similar experiences, and most refuges have children's support workers who organise activities to help the children start to deal with their family difficulties.

There's a list of organisations that can help you in our domestic violence webguide. And, sadly, many Mumsnetters have experienced domestic abuse and can give you informed advice and support on Talk.

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