Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Pregnancy and early parenthood in criminal justice settings.
Qualitative research methods.
Ethnography.
Commercial and public engagement
Fellow of The Royal College of Midwives
Volunteer for the charity: Birth Companions.
External Examiner at a comparable University.
Peer Reviewer for several journals.
Teaching specialisms
Complex Social Issues in Maternity Care.
Maternal mental health.
Leadership.
Academic supervision for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Overview
Laura is a dedicated qualitative researcher with a strong committment to making a difference in the lives of incarcerated pregnant women and mothers. Her research has focused on experiences of pregnancy and early parenthood in prison and expanded into various facets of midwifery, sociology and criminology. Laura has made significant contributions to the academic field with multiple international peer reviewed publications, book chapters in collected volumes and an edited book. She has provided expertise to government bodies, contributing to policy development and frequently delivering keynote speeches. Laura is experienced in engaging with media organisations and has made contributions to national radio and television. Laura is the Principal Investigator leading the ESRC funded Lost Mothers Project in collaboration with the charity Birth Companions and their lived experience team. She is a fellow of The Royal College of Midwives and holds registrations as a nurse and a midwife ensuring her research is deeply rooted in practical experience. Laura is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an experienced Masters and PhD supervisor.
Education/Academic qualification
DHRes, Doctorate, The Incarcerated Pregnancy: An Ethnographic Study of Perinatal Women in English Prisons, University of Hertfordshire
1 Sept 2012 → 31 May 2018
Award Date: 7 Jul 2018
Health, MSc, University of Hertfordshire
Award Date: 10 Sept 2007
External positions
External Examiner, HEI: The University of Manchester
1 Sept 2015 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Lost mothers – How women and professionals involved with the criminal justice system experience enforced separation of new-born babies.
Abbott, L. (PI)
1/12/22 → 8/12/25
Project: Research
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Exploring experiences of women becoming homeless during pregnancy
Abbott, L. (PI) & Reynolds, S. (Researcher)
10/07/18 → …
Project: Research
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Jean Davis Award from Iolanthe Midwifery Trust and Royal College of Midwives
Abbott, L. (PI)
3/11/14 → …
Project: Other
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The Incarcerated Pregnancy: What is the experience of being pregnant in prison?
Abbott, L. (PI)
4/09/12 → …
Project: Other
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The Incarcerated Pregnancy: An Ethnographic Study of Perinatal Women in English Prisons
Abbott, L. (PI)
Project: Research
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Maternity Provision for Incarcerated Women in the UK: Bridging Gaps in Clinical Care
Abbott, L., Kitchen , K., Capper, T., Davies, M. & Baldwin, L., 19 Sept 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: British Medical Journal (BMJ).Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Meeting the needs of pregnant women and new mothers in prison
Abbott, L., 15 Jul 2024, In: International Journal of Birth and Parent Education (IJBPE). 11, 4 Supplement, p. 7-10 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure) -
Co-production in the Lost Mothers Project: transforming criminal justice narratives through Lived experience engagement
Abbott, L., Chivers, K. & Moncrieffe, T., 5 Jun 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Research Involvement and Engagement. 10, p. 1-8 8 p., 53.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
The Lost Mother's project: Imprisoned pregnant women undergoing mandatory separation from their newborn babies experience compounded punishments and a uniquely painful prison experience
Avlonitis, N. & Abbott, L., 14 Mar 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Downloads (Pure) -
Institutional thoughtlessness and the incarcerated pregnancy
Abbott, L., Scott, T. & Thomas, H., 11 Feb 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Criminology & Criminal Justice (CCJ). p. 1-19 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile56 Downloads (Pure)