Abuse During Pregnancy

Why abuse during pregnancy?

• Competition for attention. The fetus is seen as an intruder into the relationship.
• Financial concerns.
• Loss of power and control. The partner may resent contact with others. Pregnancy may be a threat to a controlling, abusive partner who believes the woman could be influenced against him each time she sees a health care provider.
• Dislike of physical and emotional pregnancy changes.

Note: An abusive partner may target the pregnant woman’s breasts, genitalia and abdomen to inflict injury. This may be in order to hide the assault and target those body parts associated with pregnancy. (Source:  Best Start - Information and Strategies for the Prenatal Educator. Best Start is Ontario’s maternal, newborn and early child development resource centre.)

“21% of women abused by a current or previous partner were assaulted during pregnancy.” (Source:  Statistics Canada, “Violence Against Women Survey”, The Daily, November 18, 1993.)

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