Domestic violence can happen to anybody. While pregnancy can bring immense joy in relationships, it brings pain to others with emotions that play out in the form of domestic violence against both the mother and her unborn child. According to the WHO “intimate partner violence during pregnancy has been found to be associated with fatal and non-fatal adverse health outcomes for the pregnant woman and her baby due to the direct trauma pf abuse to a pregnant woman’s body.”

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Research shows that pregnancy does not prevent domestic/intimate partner violence. In a study conducted by the WHO evidence showed that 50% of women stated they were beaten for the first time during a pregnancy.

 

What is Domestic Violence?

Abuse is a pattern of behavior that one person uses to gain power and control over another. These behaviors can include:

  • isolation from friends and family

  • emotional abuse

  • monitoring

  • controlling the finances

  • physical and sexual assault

The fundamental harm of abuse is a loss of autonomy. Autonomy means independence and freedom from external control.

Assistance for Immigrants

Immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence face extra barriers to getting help. These include language and cultural barriers, misinformation about their rights, and difficulty in navigating complex systems (housing, benefits, health care, immigration, etc.). Here are some resources for immigrant survivors:

Domestic Violence Programs in King County