Cassie Ventura's courageous court appearance stirs a conversation on trauma during pregnancy

Cassie Ventura’s reappearance in court, visibly pregnant and detailing the years of alleged abuse she endured at the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs, has drawn attention not just to the legal dimensions of her case, but to the emotional and physical toll of testifying during pregnancy. 

Her testimony, delivered under federal investigation in the United States, describes violent incidents, coercion, and repeated sexual violations.

It is harrowing content for any setting, let alone for a woman in the final stages of pregnancy.

The proceedings follow a broader probe that intensified after the release of a now-viral surveillance video appearing to show Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. 

Although she initially settled a civil suit in late 2023, she has since become a key figure in a federal case involving alleged sex trafficking, assault, and abuse. 

Through it all, Ventura, now a mother of two with a third on the way, is asked to recount deeply disturbing experiences while undergoing the physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy.

For pregnant women, exposure to trauma can have deep and lasting impacts. 

Medical studies have long warned about the effects of sustained stress during gestation. 

A 2024 "Nature Mental Health" article states that "sustained stress during pregnancy alters foetal brain connectivity and may increase the risk of cognitive and emotional difficulties in childhood."

The risks are not abstract. 

Trauma can raise cortisol levels in the body, a hormone released in response to stress.

Elevated cortisol during pregnancy has been associated with premature labour, low birth weight, and long-term developmental issues.  

“The baby doesn’t just hear what the mother hears; they feel what the mother feels. And that’s not metaphorical, it’s biological,” explains psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Evans, co-author of a major study on prenatal mental health. 

The emotional cost for Ventura goes far beyond courtroom nerves.

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, "exposure to trauma in pregnancy significantly raises the likelihood of antenatal and postnatal depression, and in some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)." 

The act of testifying, though often framed as an empowering gesture, can simultaneously reintroduce feelings of shame, vulnerability, and helplessness.

These emotional states are known to interfere with sleep patterns, affect appetite, and even disrupt immune function, factors that contribute significantly to maternal health outcomes.

This trauma doesn’t just affect Ventura. It echoes into her home life.

Her husband, Alex Fine, has publicly supported her throughout this ordeal, but psychologists often warn of “secondary trauma”, the emotional distress experienced by those close to survivors. 

These mental health struggles can linger long after the baby is born, often interfering with bonding, sleep, and emotional regulation in both the mother and child.

In Ventura’s situation, the courtroom is not only a legal arena but also a space of psychological confrontation.

To narrate past violations, especially while carrying a child, can disrupt one’s sense of safety, identity, and control.

Listening to your partner relive abuse can be shattering.

For many men, especially those in protective roles, it can trigger helplessness, guilt, and even emotional shutdown.

Couples navigating trauma during pregnancy face a unique set of challenges.

Communication becomes more difficult when both parties are processing pain.

Experts agree that without the right therapeutic support, couples in such circumstances may struggle with communication, intimacy, and parenting in the early postpartum months.

For many South African women, Ventura’s story is painfully familiar.

The country faces one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world.

And while public figures like Ventura have access to legal teams and mental health professionals, most survivors do not.

Organisations like the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) continue to advocate for accessible support for women who are pregnant and navigating emotional or physical trauma.

Pregnancy is a period that demands protection, care, and stability. For women who are re-living past abuse, it can also be a time of heightened vulnerability, with consequences that may echo into the next generation.