Reclining on the narrow mattress of a single twin bed, Suzy* was unable to escape the agonizing discomfort that consumed her body.
Uncertain of the well-being of either herself or her unborn child, the 35-year-old woman could only weep herself to sleep.
Just days earlier, Suzy had learned of her pregnancy—a significant shock for the mother of one. After being incarcerated while awaiting trial for a crime she would later be exonerated of, a routine medical examination had unveiled her condition.
Last year, over 200 expectant mothers were in prisons throughout England and Wales—a figure that has increased by more than one-third (36%) in 2024. One-third were held on remand, despite not having been convicted of any offense.
Data from the Ministry of Justice indicates that women in these circumstances are seven times more prone to stillbirth and twice as likely to deliver prematurely. However, as Suzy discovered, acquiring adequate medical treatment while confined can prove challenging.
When she awoke one day in severe agony, fearing for the life of her unborn child, she recounted having to plead for medical assistance.
‘That’s when it dawned on me that this was not a secure environment,’ Suzy confided to Metro.
After informing the prison officers of her distress, they deliberated on a course of action and ultimately resolved to transport her to the hospital.
What astonished Suzy was that the officers were not making decisions ‘based on her requirements,’ as she recalls, but rather due to the availability of staff.
‘To visit A&E, two officers must accompany you, which meant they had to locate personnel willing to assist,’ she clarifies.
‘When they finally collected me, we underwent the standard security protocols of being checked, patted down, and handcuffed—all while I was in excruciating pain.
‘As we entered the van, I overheard the officers grumbling among themselves about how irritated they were that this delayed their departure, as they were hoping to return home on time.’
Seeking Assistance
To exacerbate the situation, it was only after several hours of waiting in A&E for treatment—unaware of her baby’s condition—that a doctor informed Suzy and the officers that there was no early pregnancy unit available at that hospital. Because her situation was not classified as an emergency, she would need to wait until the following week when a nearby unit would be operational.
Feeling defeated, Suzy was escorted back to the vehicle by the two officers. During the ride home, one of them remarked, ‘Maybe it’s for the best.’ She broke down in tears.
‘I was heartbroken. I didn’t even know what was wrong with me or my baby, yet I was being told that it was likely better that I wasn’t pregnant at all,’ Suzy recollects. ‘Upon returning to my room, I simply lay down and cried myself to sleep. I was so distraught that I couldn’t even get out of bed. I thought I had lost my baby.’
Fortunately, her baby was fine, and over time, she received the necessary treatment. However, she was only permitted to return home six months later—by then significantly pregnant—after finally being acquitted of her charges.
Following her release, Suzy gave birth to a healthy child via C-section and has since dedicated her efforts toward assisting others in similar situations.
‘You lose so much while incarcerated,’ she states. ‘It impacts your children on the outside and disrupts entire families.’
A Perilous Situation
Not every pregnant woman incarcerated is as fortunate as Suzy. In September 2021, Rianna Cleary, a teenager who confessed to robbery after being coerced by gangs, was detained on remand at HMP Bronzefield. She also discovered her pregnancy following the initial medical evaluations.
Her baby, Aisha, was born in the early hours of September 27, 2019, after her mother made two unanswered calls to prison personnel for assistance. A prison officer passed by her cell with a flashlight while she was on her hands and knees in labor but failed to stop and help.
Rianna made two frantic calls to the prison staff requesting a nurse and an ambulance, but no one arrived. When she awoke, she had to sever the umbilical cord with her teeth.
Her baby daughter was pronounced dead later that morning due to brain injuries, an inquiry revealed.
Although the NHS categorizes all pregnancies in prison as ‘high risk,’ concerns are mounting regarding why expectant mothers—nearly 72% of whom were remanded and later exonerated—are still subjected to hazardous conditions.
Suzy is now involved with Level Up, a campaign organization advocating for gender justice in the UK, and asserts that the risks confronting incarcerated mothers and their babies indicate that the prison systems are incapable of providing a secure environment.
‘Officers determine whether you go to the hospital, yet they are not medically trained.’
In certain instances, officers have participated in deliveries, which is unlawful, she asserts.
‘My prison governor informed me she could not justify allocating her budget for a full-time midwife. They are failing on numerous fronts.’
In 2022, 30-year-old Louise Powell gave birth unexpectedly to a stillborn child in a prison restroom at HMP Styal in Cheshire. She was unaware of her pregnancy, while the staff believed she was suffering from ‘menstrual cramps’.
Seeking Solutions
The incident was condemned as a ‘serious misjudgment’ and ignited further discussions regarding the treatment of pregnant women awaiting trial. MP Apsana Begum posed a parliamentary question on the matter, asserting that ‘detaining expectant mothers in prison before they have even been adjudicated in court contradicts the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”’
Last year, the government also aimed to decrease the number of pregnant women sentenced to incarceration by introducing a new ‘mitigating factor’ that enables judges to explore alternatives to imprisoning women and new mothers, such as supervised community service.
Nevertheless, this measure does not apply to judicial proceedings for the one-third of pregnant women on remand—only to those who have been convicted of a crime.
What have the MOJ and Chair of the Justice Committee stated?
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice commented: ‘The Lord Chancellor has initiated the Women’s Justice Board to ensure that fewer women, especially those who are pregnant or mothers, are incarcerated.
‘Custodial sentences should always be a last resort for women, and we have designated pregnancy, mother, and baby liaison officers in every women’s prison to ensure they are directed to essential support services.’
Andy Slaughter MP, Chair of the Justice Committee, remarked: ‘These statistics raise significant concerns. The previous Justice Committee cautioned in its 2022 report on Women in Prison that there has been limited advancement in developing alternatives to custodial sentences for women.
‘It also emphasized the need for renewed attention to the specific challenges faced by women entering the prison system, including the effects on primary caregivers, and what additional measures can be implemented to preserve critical family relationships.
‘The Committee’s 2023 report on the function of adult custodial remand warned that the criminal justice system is inadequately equipped to handle the increasing number of remand prisoners. It also urged for enhanced utilization of community alternatives to custodial remand, especially for non-violent offenses, along with improved support for individuals under custodial remand.
‘The Justice Committee is currently conducting an investigation into rehabilitation and reintegration, aiming to break the cycle of reoffending, and in its initial evidence session earlier this month, heard alarming testimonies regarding the numerous challenges that female prisoners encounter in accessing their basic needs.
‘The Committee will closely monitor the endeavors of the Women’s Justice Board in its aim to minimize the number of women held in custody.’
In a further effort to tackle the situation, the government is currently sponsoring an Independent Sentencing Review to examine sentencing practices for offenses across England and Wales. This review is led by Former Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, the Rt Hon David Gauke, along with an expert panel.
However, Suzy remains unconvinced by such commitments. ‘I don’t feel like we are a priority—prison is not a safe environment for pregnant women,’ she says.
‘Prisons have had sufficient time to implement necessary reforms, and there have been numerous serious incidents, perilous births, and fatalities.’
Mel Evans, co-founder of No Births Behind Bars, asserts that more action is required. ‘Prison cannot be made a safe space for pregnant women and infants. It is insufficient for the government to merely apply a temporary solution with new roles for prison officers,’ she tells Metro.
‘To prevent further baby fatalities in custody, we require fresh legislation to allow pregnant women and new mothers to remain in the community.’
In response to the tragedy at Styal Prison in Cheshire, the establishment has since created a new mother and baby unit, which has been praised as ‘better’ than some of the external NHS care available.
During a recent visit to the unit, the Princess of Wales remarked that it was ‘fantastic’, telling the staff: ‘It’s wonderful that you are considering the wellbeing of the mother as well. The most beneficial thing for a baby is to have a mother whose emotional needs and wellbeing are fulfilled.’
For Level Up’s Co-director Janey Starling, mother and baby units like these do not provide a viable solution. ‘Prison will never be a secure place for a pregnant woman,’ she tells Metro.
‘The only way to safeguard women and infants is for the government to reallocate funding from prisons to specialized community-based women’s centers, where a woman can access the appropriate support to tackle the issues that led her into crime initially, which often include financial difficulties, mental health issues, and domestic violence.
‘Women’s centers are effective. In her community, a woman can obtain the support necessary to ensure her child receives the best possible start in life. Prison will never provide the best foundation for a child’s life.’
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