The Effects of Verbal Abuse on a Fetus
A fetus' brain is susceptible to physical and emotional harm from verbal abuse. To avoid future problems with physical and emotional development, it is important to be aware of how your actions--and the actions of those close to you--may affect your unborn child.
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What Is Verbal Abuse?
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Verbal abuse includes sarcasm, criticism, belittling, yelling, humiliation, name-calling, making threats and withholding communication.
Fetal Brain Development
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The neurons in our brains begin to form and grow connections while we are still in the womb. In fact, the most important aspects of brain development occur before birth.
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Mother's Stress
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High levels of stress in the mother produce high levels of the hormone cortisol. Prolonged exposure to this hormone can lead to an infant's being more fearful or susceptible to future drug or alcohol abuse, depression or other mental health disorders. It can also lead to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Long-term fetal stress can actually cause the fetus' brain to be smaller.
Cognitive Effects
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Fetuses can hear at a very early gestational age. Repeated loud noises can impair the development of the auditory structures of the brain. Stress hormones can affect certain structures of the brain, leading to learning and memory difficulties. Sleep patterns can be disturbed.
Other Dangers
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Abuse often begins or escalates in a relationship during pregnancy. Mothers often respond to the stress by engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as drug or alcohol abuse. Abused women have higher levels of infection during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an abused mother is more likely to have a low birth-weight baby, a premature baby or a miscarriage. Of all the forms of domestic violence, verbal abuse has the highest incidence of negative outcomes for the fetus (see Resources).
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