Pregnancy can bring many emotions, decisions, and changes to your life. If you’re experiencing a pregnancy with someone who makes you feel afraid, controlled, or unsafe, it can be difficult to know what to do next.
Abuse doesn’t always involve physical violence. Emotional, verbal, psychological, and financial abuse can be just as damaging. During pregnancy, these behaviors may affect your emotional well-being, your relationships, and your ability to make decisions about your pregnancy freely.
You deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported through this time. If you’re concerned that your partner may be abusing or controlling you, you have options and resources to help you understand your situation and determine what steps are right for you.
Types of Abuse During Pregnancy
Manipulation, guilt-tripping, humiliation, or constant criticism can wear down your self-esteem and emotional well-being. A partner may make you feel guilty about the pregnancy, tell you that you’re incapable of being a good parent, or use your fears and emotions against you.
2. Verbal Abuse
Yelling, name-calling, insults, and threats can make you feel worthless or afraid. Even without physical violence, repeated verbal abuse can create an environment where you feel like you have to constantly monitor what you say or do to avoid upsetting your partner.
Gaslighting, isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior can make you question your own experiences and feel trapped. Your partner may try to keep you away from family or friends, monitor your phone or activities, or make you feel that you cannot make decisions without them.
A partner may pressure, threaten, or manipulate you regarding your pregnancy. This can include pressuring you about terminating the pregnancy or keeping it. You deserve to make decisions about your pregnancy without fear or coercion.
Controlling your access to money, preventing you from working, or making you financially dependent can limit your ability to make choices or leave an unsafe relationship. Financial control can become especially concerning during pregnancy when you may be thinking about medical care, housing, employment, or preparing for a baby.
Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, pushing, choking, restraining, or otherwise physically hurting or intimidating you. During pregnancy, physical violence can be especially dangerous for both you and your pregnancy. Physical abuse can also include blocking your ability to leave, throwing objects, or threatening physical harm.
If your partner has physically hurt you or you fear that they may, reach out for help right away at National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You do not have to wait for the abuse to get worse before reaching out.
Signs You Might Be in an Abusive Relationship
You may be experiencing an unhealthy or abusive relationship if:
- You feel afraid to speak your mind or make decisions about your pregnancy.
- Your partner pressures or threatens you about what you should do with your pregnancy.
- Your partner constantly criticizes, humiliates, or belittles you.
- You feel isolated from family and friends because of your partner’s influence.
- Your partner monitors your phone, location, finances, or activities.
- Your partner tries to control whether or when you receive medical care.
- You experience extreme guilt or anxiety because you are afraid of upsetting your partner.
- You feel that you have to give up your own needs or choices to keep your partner happy.
- Your partner threatens to leave you, withhold financial support, or take away your housing if you don’t do what they want.
Why Recognizing Abuse in a Relationship Is Important
Abuse can have lasting effects on your emotional and mental well-being. Experiencing fear, isolation, manipulation, or control during pregnancy can make an already significant life transition even more difficult.
Recognizing these behaviors is an important first step. You don’t have to wait until abuse becomes physical to seek support.
If you are a friend or family member who is concerned about someone you know who might be being coerced or controlled, don’t hesitate to call us. We’d be happy to share helpful local organizations and give advice on what kind of steps you can take to protect your friend.
Seeking Pregnancy Help and Support in Parkville, MO
If you believe you’re experiencing abuse during pregnancy, you don’t have to figure out everything alone. Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, therapist, or a domestic abuse hotline for guidance. You deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued in your relationship.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has confidential 24/7 help:
If you are pregnant, in an abusive relationship, and aren’t sure which pregnancy option is right for your situation, consider making an appointment with Parkville Women’s Clinic. We can provide a safe place to help you figure out next steps and options. We offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STI testing, and information on all your pregnancy options. Your appointment is always confidential and never requires insurance.
Don’t navigate this alone. Get pregnancy help today.
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