By Maria Gallagher, Legislative Director
gallagher@paprolife.org

I was reading a health insurance newsletter when an alarming statistic caught my eye: according to a study, each year–each year!–324,000 pregnant women are battered by their intimate partners. That means more than a half million people are at risk, when you consider that each of those women is carrying a vulnerable baby.

Add to that the fact that the number one cause of traumatic death for pregnant women and women who have recently given birth is murder. Of those women killed, a sizable percentage are murdered by their intimate partners.

Abused women are also more likely to suffer from depression, pregnancy complications, and substance abuse. Also, keep in mind that statistics show that 60 percent of abortions are coerced. In many of those cases, the abuser may do the coercing, threatening a woman with violence, loss of shelter, or loss of income if she does not agree to abort her child.

Domestic violence poses a profound threat to preborn children. In many cases, the violence in the home can lead women straight to an abortion facility.

This is one of the reasons pregnancy support centers are so valuable. They can serve as first responders, attending to the needs of a battered pregnant woman. They can help empower a woman so that she leaves her violent situation, thereby protecting both herself and her preborn baby.

If you suspect a pregnant woman you know is being abused, it is important that you provide her with support, a listening ear, and make her aware that she has options to get to a place of safety. For some tips on how to talk to a woman in such a situation, click here.

And for the nearest pregnancy help center in Pennsylvania, click here.

Domestic violence is undeniably a contributing factor to abortions in this country. When we empower pregnant women to seek freedom from abuse, we provide a critical lifeline to both mother and child. There are many reasons the heartbreaking tragedy of abortion remains legal in this country. Domestic violence is one of them.