L0UISA Thu 19-Jul-18 14:37:59

Many prisons have a mother and baby unit, for women who enter prison pregnant and give birth whilst on remand or serving their sentence. I’d imagine this will also be open to women who become pregnant in prison.



Women can keep their babies with them for up to the first 18 months.



In all of the prisons housing pregnant women, arrangements are made for women to give birth in the maternity hospital nearest to the prison and women continue to receive antenatal care while in prison.



Midwives from the local hospital usually visit the prisons regularly and run clinics to provide care for pregnant women.



Once the child is 18 months old, they are cared for outside the prison, usually within the biological mothers extended family. They are very unlikely to be taken into care or adopted , as it’s nearly always best for the child to stay with their family.



Most women are serving short sentences and will hopefully be able to resume care for their child when they leave prison.



As to the rights of the other biological parent of a child born in such circumstances , I can only speculate. Perhaps they will also demand a place in the mother and baby unit so they can receive” maternity care “ and look after the child.



Maybe the state will provide drugs and pumps so they can try to induce lactation and breastfeed.