Understanding Self-Harm

Self-harm or self-injury refers to someone hurting or harming themselves.  In this context the term is referring to an intentional act.  In some instances it can appear to be done coolly, however it is usually done whilst in a state of high emotion.  This makes it a more relevant issue for midwives because during pregnancy there are many issues, both physiologically and psychologically, that may cause the emotions of the pregnant woman to be heightened.

For all people the act of self-harm is seen to affect the person in three main ways: The body, the self and society.  In the case of a pregnant mother these effecting factors may be intensified.

The Body

The dramatic changes which take place in the female form, enlarging its size and causing the body to be disproportionate can be a distressing time.  Babiker and Arnold (1997), found that many women perceived their own body as something alien and separate from themselves, with the introduction of pregnancy this is spiralled to an extreme perception.

Another factor is the loss of ownership of the body.  Another human occupying space which was once owned by the mother, and is now shared, can be a worrying physiological change to deal with for a woman.

The Self

The perception of the self can be altered by pregnancy.  It may trigger memories from past events which have influenced the mother, but have been stored away in memories.  Women that have been subjected to abuse in their earlier life may be forced to remember these old anxieties as they face the responsibility of having a child.

Babiker, Pontin, Cottrell and Oke (2009) refer to self-injury being used as a way of coping with sexual feelings.  They recognise that being pregnant is an overt signal of sexuality and sexual activity.  This can change a woman’s perception of the self because the perceptions of society may be altered by this knowledge.

Society

The Western culture that we are a part of places pressure to act and behave in certain ways.  The expectations that society hold of western women are increased when they are pregnant.  The expectation to look after the body, whether through the in-take of food or staying away from smoking areas, creates additional pressures on the mother.