What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
The physical signs of abuse can include:
bone fractures
injuries on different parts of the body, in various stages of healing
unexplained cuts, head injuries,
or bruises
The emotional signs of abuse are not as easy to see. The
victim may have these traits:
depression
feelings of anxiety
low self-esteem
A fetus has very soft, delicate tissues and organs,
especially in the head and chest area. Trauma to the pregnant
woman's abdomen can cause:
miscarriage
separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, known as
abruptio placentae
premature labor
and delivery of a low-birth-weight or premature infant
premature rupture of the membranes
infection
stillbirth
fetal fractures
maternal hemorrhage, which can result in the deaths of both mother and baby