10/09/2026
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Pregnancy is one of the most dangerous times in a person’s life when they’re in an abusive relationship.
Swipe through those numbers again... Up to 30% of abuse starts for the first time during pregnancy.
Homicide is a leading cause of pregnancy-related death.
These aren’t rare stories with as many as 1 in 5 people experiencing intimate partner violence. This is happening to the people we serve.
Sweet doula, this is where you come in. You’re often one of the few people who sees a client regularly, in their home, at their most vulnerable. Stay alert. Notice the partner who answers every question for them. The client who flinches, cancels last minute, or seems scared to speak freely. The injuries that don’t quite match the story.
But real talk, some of the clients who need us most will never get to hire us. Abusers often refuse to let their partner have a doula, because a doula is one more person who might see what’s really going on. So if a client suddenly drops out of care, or a partner shuts the conversation down, pay attention to that too.
If you are being hurt by someone you love, please hear this: it is not your fault. Nothing you did caused it, and you deserve to be safe.
You are not alone.
🇺🇸 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text START to 88788
🇨🇦 Find a shelter or support near you: sheltersafe.ca
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Save this, share it, and check in on your people. 💛
