Domestic Violence and Pregnancy - Research Paper Example

Domestic violence as an issue pertaining the health of pregnant women involves nurses. Nurses are the persons who take care of the women, and help them address their issues. Introduction Domestic violence is a public health menace that results in the most injury to women in America. Domestic violence has been observed to begin, or increase during pregnancy. There are no typical relationships that are more prone to abuse than others. This is what makes it hard in addressing domestic violence during pregnancy.

The impact of battering of women during pregnancy does not only affect the battered person. The infant and the family are also impacted on by the violent behaviour. Nurses in dealing with pregnant women have to make certain considerations in their assessment of the situation. In nursing care, the nurse has to carry out a physical and mental assessment of the battered woman. The nurse also has a role to play in helping curb domestic violence during pregnancy. These issues are addressed in this essay.

Domestic violence as it relates to pregnancy starts like domestic violence under any other conditions. There is a three-stage pattern that domestic violence follows, even when the woman involved is pregnancy. The first stage is tension-building which may last for many years (Schuiling & Likis, 2012). The abuse during this time is minor and is easily overlooked. Acts such as slapping and verbal abuse are taken lightly; whereas, in reality, they are the signs of danger. The second stage is called acute battering and is characterized by overt battering.

This phase takes short periods of time but is the heart of the matter. The third phase known as the honeymoon phase follows closely after the acute battering. The barterer is remorseful of his acts and behaves in a way to convince the victim that they will be non-violent. Abuse during pregnancy focuses on areas that place the life of the unborn baby at risk. During nursing care, there are considerations that a nurse has to make when assessing domestic violence during pregnancy. First, the nurse has to consider the effect that the stress may have on the pregnant woman.

During pregnancy, the woman is delicate and needs physical, mental, and emotional stability (Jasinski, 2004). In the event of abuse in the relationship, these spheres of the woman’s life are affected. As a result, the mother, infant, and other children in the family feel the repercussions. Battering impacts all persons around the battered pregnant woman, one way or another. When a pregnant woman is abused, she suffers stress, which affects her feeding. The woman may lose weight because of the stress.

The unborn baby is placed at a risk since it depends on the mother for its nutrition. Other children in the family may also witness their pregnant mother being abused. Such children develop fear for the other parent leading to a dysfunctional society. Such children also may develop behavioural adjustments since they live in constant fear that stems from the violence that surrounds them. The development of such children is hampered by these incidences. They may also become overtly violent, as they vent the frustrations of watching helplessly as their mother is abused.

Long-range effects are also possible in cases of domestic violence (Alksnis & Taylor). If a girl-child witnesses her mother being battered and the barterer suffers no consequences, the child might assume this is normal behaviour during pregnancy. The