🔗 Share this article Shackled, Isolated and Terrified: The Harsh Reality for Women Forced to Give Birth in Incarceration. A human rights activist, who was, was detained near her residence in March 2024. Accused with a broad allegation, she was held without evidence. Weeks afterward, her family were contacted to retrieve the body of her newborn baby. The reason of death has not been investigated, and the family remains unaware the circumstances or whether she received any postnatal care. A Worldwide Issue Cases such as this are not rare in detention centers around the world. Pregnant women are often held in deplorable conditions and denied proper healthcare. Some lose their pregnancies, others go into labour and have their babies by themselves in a cell. Tragically, some babies perish in custody. "Nations think it’s a small number of women so it’s insignificant, but that is incorrect," notes a legal advocate dedicated to female imprisonment. "Prison is a terrible setting for women, not to mention someone who is pregnant," she adds. "Extensive research that shows how detrimental it is. Most facilities were built with men in mind, so women were an secondary consideration." Violated UN Rules Over 15 years since the adoption of international guidelines for the handling of incarcerated women. These rules state that prison should be a last resort for expectant mothers and that alternatives to detention should always be considered. Furthermore, they ban the use of restraints on women during labour. Yet, these guidelines are consistently flouted globally. "This is not considered a worldwide priority for women's rights," says the expert. "It remains hidden, and there’s a lot of shame and stereotyping." Dire Situations in Overcrowded Systems In certain nations, conditions for pregnant prisoners are described as "exceptionally severe". Contact with relatives have been prohibited, and civil society are denied access. Accounts with formerly incarcerated women detail assaults, abuse, and being denied basic supplies. Some resort to exchanging favors with guards for nourishment or medicine. "We has documented pregnancy losses and the death of four babies … it is certain there are more," reports a local lawyer. Accounts also tell of women who were shackled to hospital beds while in labor and delivered while watched by male prison guards. Overcrowding and Its Consequences Statistics lists some countries as having the highest overcrowding levels in the world. Female inmates are particularly vulnerable to these conditions. "There is rarely enough space to fully lie down," says a advocate. "There exists a persistent lack of access to essentials." Expectant inmates have been restrained to hospital beds prior to delivery. Conditions for caring for an infant back in prison are alarming, as shown by cases of infants dying from pneumonia and malnourishment in custody. Accounts from Around the Globe In one African country, a past prisoner remembers being in a cell with pregnant women. Cell doors were secured overnight. When someone started giving birth at night, the women were forced to manage on their own. "We begged. Others were asking for divine help. Others were banging on the ground and the doors, screaming: ‘Please come, somebody’s in labour!’" Such events occur in more developed nations. For example, a teenager lost her daughter after giving birth unassisted in a cell. Her calls for help went unanswered for an extended period, and she was had to sever the umbilical cord herself. Turning Trauma into Change Some women have decided to use their experiences to drive reform. In the United States, a woman who lost her pregnancy in her cell founded an advocacy group. Her work has successfully advocated for legislation that prohibit restraints and solitary confinement for pregnant inmates in multiple states. Another story comes from Argentina. A woman discovered she was pregnant after being sentenced. When it came time to give birth, officers shackled her legs to the bed. Doctors performed a caesarean section. As she recovered, they suggested to sterilize her. "Why would you wish to have more children, if you’re a prisoner?" was the response. "My ordeal was obstetric violence. It should never have happened, but this is what women in prison endure," she stated. Her experiences later informed provincial policies around giving birth while incarcerated. Alternatives and Solutions Other countries have introduced policies regarding expectant mothers in the legal system. Among them are: Considering alternatives to detention for accused women who are primary caregivers, pregnant, or nursing mothers. Implementing house arrest as an option to being held before trial, especially for expectant mothers. Permitting the postponement of sentences for pregnant women. Advocates and people with experience believe that, in most cases, expectant mothers ought not to be in prison at all. "I question whether women should be prosecuted for many issues in the beginning," says the expert. "Community-based solutions that tackle the root causes of women entering the legal system – for example, poverty, violence and substance issues – are really what we should be focusing on."