Suggest she tell her doctor or nurse about the violence, asking him or her to document the abuse in her medical records and take photographs of her injuries. Offer to take the photos yourself, and suggest she store them in a safe place, along with a written description of what happened. These records will be helpful for her if she decides to take legal action in the future. If she reveals that she is being stalked by her abuser, encourage her to call a domestic violence hotline to get help developing a safety plan, including information about a protection from abuse court order. Stalking is against the law.
Many women stay because of their children.
It is important to have a safety plan for the children as well as discuss the safety issue of the child remaining in the home. If she decides to leave her relationship, she may need money, help finding a place to live, a place to store her belongings, or help getting to a battered women's program. Decide if you feel comfortable helping her in these ways. The most important thing you can do is help her develop a safety strategy, which includes setting aside money and important documents in a safe place and making a plan to escape from the violence. Battered women's programs can help.