The very first time my ex-husband struck me, we were three years into the marriage and I was one month pregnant with our second child. He struck me in the presence of his family for no apparent reason. I was shocked, embarrassed, hurt and surprised; I felt severely betrayed. The fact that I was pregnant was not even given consideration. The next day, he apologized and promised he'd never do it again. Nonetheless, the abuse escalated; he was drinking more and more and beating me as