How Worst It’s to Be Pregnant in Prison & What It’s Really Like?

Jails neglect pregnant women, forcing them to give birth alone.

For a mom to be carrying a baby for nine months in their belly is a feeling that only a pregnant woman can explain — it’s challenging but joyous at the same time.

Imagine the anticipation of your child’s birth, and you have only two weeks till your due date, yet all that joy and excitement that you should feel is overshadowed by stress and anxiety.

This is how pregnant women in correctional facilities think when coping with a restricted prison diet, limited knowledge, and poor medical care.

Incarcerated women often go through many complications, both physically and mentally. This article will try to understand more about the problems and traumas that locked-up pregnant women go through.

Women Are Often Forced To Give Birth In Their Cells

All over the world, medical care for inmates is almost next to zero. Ignorance of prison staff makes matters worse.

Lack of medical care in prisons means mothers are forced to give birth without adequate care, leading to the risk of infection and other health problems for the baby and mother.

Moreover, mothers are forced to give birth in their cells with no assistance in some cases

The U.S has better correctional facilities when compared to other parts of the world. Still, there were various cases of cell births all around the United States Of America.

Guarding Protocol Will, Be Followed No Matter What

The inmates are under constant watch, which means there is no privacy for a pregnant woman in prison, even if she is in labor or about to give birth.

The time of birth is very emotional for any woman. Still, for the one in prison, no emotional support is provided, and the fact that not one of all the staff is there for them further aggravates the feeling of loneliness.

However, the authorities have allowed doulas to coach pregnant inmates in some correctional facilities through their delivery.

No Special Treatment For Pregnant Women

Women who are sentenced to prison go through a general medical examination. This confirms if an inmate is pregnant and also exposes any unknown pregnancy.

Real problems for these women begin when they are in prison. These women are not separated from other inmates and receive no special care or treatment. One is only separated if she is a drug addict and needs special medical care to prevent any harm to the unborn baby.

Talking about the only special care they receive, it is only limited to getting an extra pillow or a bottom bunk.

These women are required to stay in prison at all times. The only reason they can go out is for an obstetrician visit — that too is often rejected.

No Special Diet Or Vitamins For Mom To Be

For a pregnant lady, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet. This diet includes a bit of everything: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and proteins.

However, an incarcerated woman’s diet is not different from any other inmate’s which turns insufficient.

Pregnant women in prison are left with hunger even after their meals, often malnourished.

Breastfeeding Is Next To Impossible

Breastfeeding has many health benefits. It is also a source of revitalization for a mom and baby.

For moms behind bars, it is almost impossible to breastfeed their babies because most prisons do not have any system in place that can be of any help for these mothers.

Moms in correctional facilities don’t have a place to nurse their young ones or pump milk, and there are no facilities to store fresh milk.

Women who are unable to milk often complain of severe pain in their breasts because they are full of milk, further reminding them of their babies who are often left in hospitals.

Extremely Difficult To Get An Abortion While In Prison

In many countries, women have the constitutional right to abortion, including incarcerated women.

However, it is almost impossible for incarcerated women to use this right of theirs. These female inmates have to go outside the correctional facility to get this procedure done, which is not acceptable to the authorities.

Another obstruction that these incarcerated women face may include the cost associated with abortion, and sometimes it is the personal prejudice of a prison staff who is against this procedure.

Shackled While Giving Birth

It is a common practice to shackle up prisoners before they leave their correctional facility worldwide. Their arms, waist, and ankles are chained together.

There are no exceptions for pregnant women and being transported to the hospital for the birth of their child either.

However, some states in US do allow a woman in labor for availing hospitals to give birth, without getting chained up or shackled.

Giving birth while being handcuffed to a bed is a significant humiliation and pain for these women. Moreover, they are not even uncuffed so that they may hold their newborn baby.

Final Words:

In the 20th century, we had almost the same prisons with the same rules. Sadly, even after all this time, not much has changed.

These correctional facilities need revamping, and more facilities for the inmates so that they can be rehabilitated.

Apart from adequate medical and prenatal care, imprisoned pregnant women should be given their right to keep their baby.

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