Thousands of pregnant women in England disclose domestic abuse to midwives, analysis finds

An estimated 20,000 disclosures of domestic abuse are made to maternity services in England every year, according to new analysis reported by the Guardian.

The figures, described by experts as likely to be an underestimate of the true scale of abuse disclosed during pregnancy, highlight the central role that midwives and other maternity professionals play in identifying and responding to domestic abuse among pregnant women.

According to the Guardian's report, the analysis "lays bare" a pattern that midwives say they already recognise from their day-to-day work with pregnant women.

Experts cited in the report said the scale of disclosures underscores growing pressure on maternity services, with midwives said to be struggling to cope with the demands of identifying, supporting and referring women who disclose abuse while pregnant.

The Guardian's report is exclusive and further details on the source of the analysis, the methodology used, and responses from health authorities were not fully specified in the available material.