Domestic abuse - are we/RM's equipped?

I think this is a difficult subject to discuss to be honest, for the midwife and more especially the woman.

I am not convinced that many women who are being abused be it physically and or mentally will actually admit to this when asked.

In my trust if a partner accompanies a woman to her booking visit, she is seen on her own initially and asked this question. I can't honestly say I would expect her to say 'yes I am'.

She has to leave the hospital with that partner after the visit, and sure enough his first question is going to be to ask what they wanted to see her on her own for? This could then lead to yet another argument and more abuse surely?

I don't know what the answer is, but I fully understand the reluctance of women to give an honest answer to this question.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

I disagree with this element of midwife tbh. Its interfering, especially as a tickbox during a booking interview fgs. I know that domestic violence often starts or goes up a notch in pregnancy , I have been there, and I never told (why would I ?).

The thing is, midwives are not equipped to deal with the response of yes I am can you help me? the real fact is there is very little to help a woman being abused and often she has no choice but to stick it out anyway

Things really need to change if midwives are going to help women who go through this (I will never call them victims, because they are not)

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I agree Duel, I personally would be very unsure of what to do if a woman did confide in me, the only think i can think of to do is to listen if she's willing to tell, and then find out somehow the appropriate referrals etc.

Think it's a very difficult area and more training is definately needed. x

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"With my hands, i have felt the strength it takes to grow, and release new spirit......."
"All the best births are the ones where you only have time to record times on a paper towel..."- a midwife, somewhere in the middle

I haven't started my training yet so I don't know how much this is covered in the course and how the subject is broached with women, but I used to volunteer in a refuge for women and children who had escaped from domestic violence. I also answered the helpline at the refuge for those women who needed to talk or who needed advice about what options were available to them. I think midwives should definitely be properly educated about domestic violence - what the signs are and what the options are for women in this situation. Athough I agree SMwife that there isn't anything we can physically do, if we are properly informed we can give her advice about who she can contact and what her options are and most importantly that she does have options and she doesn't just have to 'stick it out'. The refuge I worked at was fantastic and advised women about anything and everything from her legal rights to what benefits they could claim etc - the helpline was open 24 hours a day and they were happy for women to call as many times as they needed to. Pregnancy is a time when a women in a violent relationship is particularly vunerable and its also a time when they might finally decide to do something about it - particularly if this is their first child. I saw several women in the late stages of pregnancy come to the refuge so I think if midwives are given the information then they may be able to help more - even if it is just to refer them to someone who can help them. Its a shame if they have plucked up the courage to confide in someone (their midwife) and they don't get any useful help/advice.

Yes, that is true, Sazzle, it is something I guess I am taking personally having lived in a refuge, and not really recieving any support, the situation for women who experience domestic violence is improving, but frankly it is still useless. JMO

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