Much has been written about the serious physical and psychological effects of abuse on victims. Clearly, women who are abused during pregnancy (and their unborn baby) can suffer any or all of the known impacts of abuse, including serious physical and/or psychological trauma and death.
 
According to the literature, abuse during pregnancy can have direct and indirect effects. Many different complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes are linked to abuse. Some are the direct consequences of violence (eg. due to physical trauma). Other effects are indirect and may stem from complex and interrelated factors, such as stress, substance abuse, suicide attempts, depression, inadequate prenatal care, and histories of obstetrical and gynaecological complications (Bohn & Parker, 1993).

Research has shown that pregnant women who experience severe physical trauma to their abdomen may suffer adverse pregnancy outcomes, including: 

• placental abruption (separation)
• preterm labour and delivery
• foetal death (independent of an abruption)
• previa death in utero
• spontaneous abortion