Intimate partner violence in pregnancy

"She was expecting love… not fear! Healthcare includes love….not fear!

When Mrs A found out she was pregnant, she thought things would change. They did. But not in the way she hoped.

The slaps came first. Then the shouting that shook the walls. He started locking her phone, isolating her from friends and family. He mocked her swollen feet, her cravings, her changing body. Then one day, he pushed her , while she clutched her belly.

Intimate partner violence in pregnancy isn't always physical.

It can look like:

* 💔 Emotional abuse: constant insults, blame, and manipulation.

* 🚫 Isolation: cutting her off from family, friends, or antenatal care.

* 📵 Controlling behavior: taking her phone, monitoring movements, or finances.

* 👊 Physical violence: hitting, kicking, shoving - especially dangerous in pregnancy.

* 💦 Sexual violence: forced sex or refusal to use protection.

* 💰 Economic abuse: withholding money for food, hospital bills, or baby needs.

* 😔 Threats : to harm her, take the baby, or abandon her.

Pregnancy doesn’t stop abuse.

But you can help stop the silence.

Speak up

1. Confide in Someone You Trust:

2. Talk to a Healthcare Provider:

Doctors, nurses, or midwives are trained to recognize and respond to IPV. During an antenatal visit, you can say:

“I’m afraid of my partner”,

Can I talk to you alone?

They can connect you to social workers, safe shelters, or crisis lines.

3. ⁠Run for your life.