The Incarcerated Pregnancy

Little is known about the experience of being a pregnant woman in prison. In the UK there are approximately 4000 women in prison at any one time and between 6 and 7% are estimated to be pregnant(Ministry of Justice, 2015). Pregnancy is a critical, emotional event in a woman’s life and the problems associated with this vulnerable population is compounded within a total institution of incarceration(Abbott 2015). My Doctoral research is examining the experience of the pregnant woman in prison. An interpretive (qualitative) framework is using two techniques with the aim of accessing the conditions under which women are journeying through their pregnancy. This paper will include a critical reflection on the experiences of women who are currently pregnant in our prison system. It will examine their experiences of the maternity care they receive and whether this amounts to the equivalence of healthcare that has been recommended. (Marshall, 2010). The environment of the female prison estate through extensive doctoral fieldwork will be discussed. The in-depth interviews of incarcerated pregnant women will highlight specific physical and emotional issues that incarcerated pregnant women face.