How does intimate partner violence impact pregnancy?
TL;DR: Survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy, both parents and infants, experience long-term emotional trauma and chronic health problems, and timely support can help prevent it.
*If you or anyone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Anonymous, confidential help is available 24/7.*
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abusive behavior within a romantic or sexual relationship, usually as a result of power and control exerted by one partner over the other. It impacts every demographic group, but pregnant people are among the highest risk for IPV, which includes physical violence, psychological abuse, sexual assault, and reproductive coercion.
In the United States, between 16-25% of pregnant people experience IPV. In fact, IPV is considered more common than any other health problem during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The risk of violence often increases during pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, routine screening for IPV during prenatal visits is rare. Nearly half of pregnant people reporting IPV are never screened. Even when providers screen for postpartum depression, IPV is not often considered a contributing factor.
Risks to the parent and child are extensive and long-term
In addition to the universal harms of IPV on survivors, pregnant people and their infants both face the risk of pregnancy complications and poor health. These additional risks include:
- Physical health – injuries, chronic pain, gynecologic disorders, inadequate prenatal care, pregnancy complications, higher rates of pregnancy loss, sexually transmitted diseases
- Behavioral health – substance abuse, risky behavior, which can also impact their child
- Mental health – postpartum depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder
- Parent-child bonding – difficulty forming a secure attachment with their baby, impacting their emotional connection and overall well-being
Risks to the child include:
- Perinatal death
- Preterm birth and low birth weight
- Developmental impact – cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, which impact overall wellbeing
- Long-term health effects – asthma, obesity, cardiovascular disease
While there are significant risks related to pregnancy and birth, a person who becomes pregnant against their consent and may want to terminate the pregnancy also faces barriers to necessary reproductive care, which puts their physical and mental health at risk.
A collaborative approach goes a long way in supporting survivors’ needs
While we can all be aware of our social environment, identifying and reporting IPV is not always easy, or safe. However, healthcare providers, who have the opportunity to interact with survivors in a safe and private environment, can identify and support pregnant people experiencing IPV by:
➡️ Universal screening in routine healthcare checkup visits
➡️ Screening for IPV during obstetric care visits and at the postpartum checkup
➡️ Considering signs of substance abuse, mental health problems, STI diagnoses, fear of using contraception, and being overly nervous or concerned about being pregnant as prompts for IPV assessment
➡️ Offering information that includes community resources (mental health services, crisis hotlines, rape relief centers, shelters, legal aid, and police contact information) and appropriate referrals, and a private phone for the patient to use to call a domestic violence agency.
Of course, this assumes that healthcare is accessible to all, which may not be the case. Given the comprehensive non-medical support such as safety planning, shelter, and counseling that are needed for prevention and for survivors, the best approach is a collaboration between healthcare providers, social service agencies, and domestic violence organizations.
Family and friends of pregnant people who are at risk for IPV can also make a difference by checking in on how the relationship is going and knowing local resources. If possible, practical supports like offering rides to appointments, helping with chores or childcare, or offering a place to stay can be extremely helpful.
Stay safe. Stay well.
Those Nerdy Girls
Additional Resources
DV Helplines
US National Domestic Violence Hotline
UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Previous TNG posts on IPV
How can I recognize signs of Intimate Partner Violence?
How does Intimate Partner Violence affect the LGBTQ+ community?
How can we prevent dating violence among teens?
Data on IPV during Pregnancy
