OH, BABY! Unhappily married with no escape – Ep. 60

Even with morning sickness and other side effects, the nine months of anticipating a newborn baby is often an exciting and joyful time for women. But for those in dysfunctional or – worse – abusive relationships, that nine months can be traumatizing and potentially dangerous. Research shows that homicide is among the leading causes of death for pregnant and postpartum women, but some states still have laws that prevent couples from divorcing if the wife is pregnant. Lawmakers may have good intentions in keeping these laws on the books, but the unintended consequences can be serious – even fatal. The co-hosts take a closer look at the scary statistics in this edition of The Escape Pod. 

 

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 

Topic #1     5:25 Intro to topic: Escaping pregnancy-related divorce bans 

Topic #2   12:40 States that prevent divorce during pregnancy 

Topic #3   21:31 What a wife (and wanna-be escape artist) can do 

Topic #4   36:12 The unintended consequences of eliminating ‘no-fault’ divorce 

Topic #5   39:10 Destiny’s story 

 

Resources & Links 

• https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/12/09/opinion/pregnant-women-homicide.html 

• Pregnant Women in Missouri Can't Get Divorced 

• Pregnant Women Living in States with Limited Access to Abortion Face Higher Levels of Intimate Partner Homicide 

• Homicide Found to Be Top Cause of Maternal Death 

• Homicide is a Leading Cause of Death in Pregnant Women in the US 

• Pregnancy-associated Homicides on the Rise in the United States 

• March of Dimes Peristats 

• Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona Rarely Finalize Divorce During Pregnancy | Fact check 

• Pregnant Survivors Forced to Stay Married in These States 

• Attacks on No-Fault Divorce Are Dangerous – Especially for Those Experiencing Domestic Violence  

 

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