By Hanna Embry
The financial impact, and overall impact of leaving your abuser can be incredibly overwhelming. Especially when you’re pregnant, or have a newborn.
Financial abuse, or economic abuse is when one partner, typically in an intimate partner, has control and power over the relationship’s finances. When the abuser takes away the partner’s means to access, or acquire their money or assets.
Financial abuse is one of the main reasons that survivors stay in abusive relationships. All of this can be compounded upon when you’re about to have a child.
Preparing to Leave
Leaving a relationship while pregnant is a huge undertaking. But don’t let that stop you from taking the first steps.
When you’re preparing to leave your partner, finding the funds to do so when they control all of the money is complicated. However, don’t let that stop you from taking the first few steps.
Here are a few ways you can make a bit of money independently before you leave:
Sell personal items
- Contact a help-line
- Contact relatives to borrow funds
- Contact close friends to borrow funds
- Set aside small amounts over time
All of these things can be done quietly. These things can have a huge financial impact on your leaving your partner.
You do NOT need to have money to leave your abuser. Local safe houses, charities, and organizations can not only help you, but also supply you with everything you may need.
However, having the money there can be extremely helpful and provide you with more options. The financial impact of leaving while pregnant doesn’t have to be the line you can’t cross.
Telling Your Doctor and Your Insurance
One of the hardest parts about leaving your abuser is recognizing how much they are a part of your life. As a pregnant person, you need to tell your doctors that your abuser is not welcome in your appointments and that they will not have access to your personal files and information.
Another thing, is that if you DO have insurance, you need to contact them to see what you need to do to separate yourself and your child from your abuser.
If you are being financially controlled by your abuser, then it’s important that you tell your insurance to not bill them before appointments. To not bill them for anything, or give the abusing partner any of your financials.
Preparing Your Family, Friends, and Loved Ones
Let’s be honest, babies and pregnancy are expensive. One way that your life can be impacted financially when leaving an abusive relationship is that you lose a second source of income for you to provide for your child.
Preparing your loved ones is incredibly important because you WILL need help. You WILL need someone to buy diapers, or clothes, or bottles, or so much more.
The financial impact of leaving while pregnant means you also have to plan for the future. Your future, the future of your child, and how much it is going to cost to get your money back from your abuser.
Don’t Let the Financial Impact Keep You In DV
The financial impact of leaving your abuser while pregnant can seem overwhelming. Don’t let that stop you from getting out.
Every day humans all over the world are deciding to leave their abusive relationships. Finding ways to help you lessen the financial impact can be so comforting and helpful.
Check These Resources:
- Therapeutic Interventions for Healing From Domestic Violence
- The Hidden Impact of Teen Dating Violence
- Find Support with BTSADV
Support Line
Other Resources and Information:
