Pregnant women in Australia facing higher rates of domestic violence and abuse

With the increase in domestic violence and abuse, services are being “stretched to capacity”, leaving thousands of women waiting for months for help. Please note: This article contains references that may upset some readers.

Across Australia, thousands of women are facing serious danger. 

According to a 2021 report from the ABS, domestic violence has affected 23 per cent of women. 

That is 2.3 million women who are facing or have experienced danger in their own homes by an intimate partner. 

This isn’t the only stat that should cause concern. 

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Domestic abuse is increasing among pregnant women. Source: iStock

Domestic abuse is on the rise among pregnant women

A report from Diamond Women has found that 65 per cent of their clients are either facing or have experienced domestic violence while pregnant. 

This increase in domestic violence often escalates when “the partner finds out the woman is pregnant,” Jenny Gurry, founder and CEO of Diamond Women told Kidspot. 

“The increase means that all the domestic violence services are stretched to capacity,” she added. With fewer recourses available, women are left on wait lists, which can take months to get through. 

Unsurprisingly, the pandemic made these stats worse. “In its peak, 93 per cent of calls coming in were women pregnant and experiencing DFV,” Jenny explained. 

This increased volatility in the home means women are more likely to terminate their pregnancy.

“[This is] not because they want to, but because they are being so grossly coerced by their partner,” she explained. 

Women also felt pressured to terminate their pregnancy because “their fear is they’ll have to have some connection to [their partner] if they continue the pregnancy for the next 18 years.”

This leaves women with “compounded heartache and trauma” from the fractured relationship with their partner and the loss of a child. 

And with cost of living pressures skyrocketing, there is more reason for women to turn to termination. 

“Job security and financial security play a huge part in the decision-making process,” Jenny added. “[This] plays a massive impact on their mental health and wellbeing because if they were more financially lucrative, this would not be an issue.”

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Diamond Women aims to support women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Source: Supplied

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical

For many, the first thought you might have about domestic abuse is simply physical, but abuse can manifest itself in many different forms. 

The most common form of abuse that the team at Diamond Women see is “cutting [women] off financially or threatening to report them to child services.” 

Partners may also track the pregnant woman’s movement on their phones and monitor their calls to make it harder to report the behaviour to someone who can help. 

“When it comes to pregnancies, the emotional and verbal abuse becomes more heightened,” Jenny told Kidspot. 

For instance, “male partners [will] threaten to kill themselves unless [their partner] has an abortion” or will “threaten to make them ‘unpregnant’.” 

The abuse doesn’t stop with the woman - if she’s pregnant, the trauma is carried with the unborn child, too. 

“Some evidence points to increasing risk of miscarriage, premature birth and, depending on the type of violence, can cause injury or death to the unborn baby,” Jenny explained.

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This is a tough subject to cover, and that’s why it’s so important to discuss. 

Thankfully, more women are coming forward to tell their stories of domestic abuse, raising awareness for others who may be going through similar circumstances. 

“The amount of awareness around domestic and family violence has allowed so many women to come forward and be honest about their experience,” Jenny said. 

“As a support centre for unplanned pregnancy, we offer a safe space and it is in this environment that women are honest and transparent about some of the challenges they face in their relationship.”

Jenny also urges women who are living in abusive households to call the police. “Always be honest with police to ensure they get the help [you] need,” she said.

Originally published as Pregnant women in Australia facing higher rates of domestic violence and abuse