Domestic violence is one of those topics we don’t really want to think about, it’s unsettling and upsetting. That said domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, as the CDC is now calling it, affects over 324,000 pregnant women a year. So it is something that needs to be discussed, even if we’re reluctant to do so.

I thought that before the weekend kicks off we could take a day and discuss intimate partner violence. I’ll post some basic facts, some Q&A that may help if you’re in an abusive relationship, and resources for support. If you come in late to this topic discussion at Pregnancy & Baby, but are interested in following this post topic look in the categories above for the term, “Domestic Violence” - I’ll post everything under that term.

First some basic facts:

1. As stated above, if you think you might be in a violent relationship, you’re not alone.The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimate that over 1.5 million women, and among them, 324,000 pregnant women are affected by this kind of violence in the U.S alone. However, that’s simply the data they have. Numerous women don’t report when they’re being abused, so the numbers are higher than what can be estimated.

2. It’s estimated that domestic violence among pregnant women is even more common than all conditions for which pregnant women are routinely screened.

3. There’s research that shows that violence towards women during pregnancy may be highly associated with surprise pregnancies, delayed prenatal care,  and smoking, and/or drug abuse during pregnancy.

4. Pregnant women affected by domestic violence come from every single:

• Age group
• Religion
• Ethnic/racial group
• Socioeconomic level
• Educational background
• Sexual orientation

It’s a large issue here in the U.S. and all over the world. Coming up, what exactly is domestic violence, and later how to spot quickly the signs of an abusive relationship.

Support:  

If you know that you’re in an abusive relationship, there is help available. You can visit the National Domestic Violence website or give them a call at 1-800-799-SAFE. Note that your partner can see what websites you’ve been searching by looking at your computer history. If you’re worried about your partner knowing that you visited a domestic violence website then use the phone number instead.