Spousal Abuse & Pregnancy (#205)

This simulation was developed in collaboration with the Midwifery Program at Toronto Metropolitan University and Pam Cross from Metrac.

This woman is pregnant with her third child and is being abused by her husband. She needs someone to help her admit what is happening and realize that action must be taken.

• Listening skills
• Developing trust
• Demonstrating empathy
• Responding to non-verbal cues
• Identifying issues
• Defining next steps

Christine made an appointment with her midwife as she had fallen on the icy (wet) steps and is concerned if the fall may have affected the baby. She is bruised on her lower back, her right arm is sore from bracing her fall and she has a bruise on her cheekbone from striking an outdoor planter. Usually her husband, Frank, accompanies her to her appointments but as this is an emergency he was unable to get off work. Christine is about five months pregnant and she has two sons – Josh (fourteen) and Ben (eleven).