An estimated 20,000 cases of domestic abuse are disclosed to maternity services in England every year, according to new research by the For Baby’s Sake Trust, which supports young families experiencing domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner estimates that 30% of domestic abuse in England and Wales begins during pregnancy, but the real figure is likely higher due to underreporting.
Survivors' Stories
Evie bought a baby monitor with rare enthusiasm, hoping to see her baby on her phone. But her partner used it to surveil her, ordering her to carry it around the house so he could watch her. By the seventh month of pregnancy, he had become physically abusive. During one attack, he punched her arm, then climbed over her, squashing her belly with his arm. He apologized and sang to the baby, claiming anxiety caused his outburst.
Riley's partner was desperate for children, but when she told him she was pregnant, he demanded a video proof and asked, “Is it mine?” He showed little interest in the pregnancy, ignoring the baby's kicks and refusing to discuss names, yet he visited unannounced, sometimes at 2am, to intimidate her. Verbal abuse escalated, including calling her a “rhino” and saying she looked “disgusting.”
Impact on Health and Children
Lauren Seager-Smith, chief executive of For Baby’s Sake, says pregnancy does not cause abuse but can increase abusive behaviors, including monitoring, isolation, financial control, and coercion around healthcare. Dr Panos Vythoulkas, a lead perinatal clinical psychologist, notes that abusers may see the baby as a rival, resenting attention given to the pregnancy.
Abuse during pregnancy can be fatal. A Byline Times investigation found at least 223 women experienced pregnancy loss linked to domestic abuse in England and Wales between 2017 and 2021. The MBRRACE Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths found suicide was the leading cause of maternal death in the first postnatal year, with domestic abuse documented in 43% of women who died.
Need for Early Detection
Elaha Walizadeh of Refuge says 14% of service users reported being pregnant between 2024 and 2025, but this is the “tip of the iceberg” because not all healthcare professionals are trained to recognize signs. For Baby’s Sake and Refuge stress the need for continued training in perinatal services. “By the time you’ve actually realised how dangerous it is, it’s too risky to leave,” says Riley.
