Babies, children and young people who see or hear grown-ups arguing can be very upset even if they don’t show it. They can feel scared, lonely and confused. Even very tiny babies can get frightened when they hear loud or cross voices and arguments, and this can affect their health and development. During pregnancy domestic abuse may get worse.

If you are pregnant you may not think that arguing or any violence is harmful to your unborn baby, however we know that unborn babies are more likely to be born early, or have an infection if this is happening. You may also be more likely to suffer a miscarriage. 

NSPCC says domestic abuse is “any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship.” Domestic abuse can happen in any relationship and is not only physical violence. It can include emotional, physical, sexual, psychological (how someone thinks and feels), or financial abuse. Something called coercive controlling behaviour is also part of domestic abuse. This involves your partner controlling everything that you do, everyday. Some people do not even know they are being controlled in this way.