Pregnant Women in Prison

Reading about the harsh circumstances that some women went through really saddened me. It was very informative but also unbelievable how our security forces could be so inhumane. Granted that these cases were some of the most harsh and brought into the news, there should still be sympathy put on others. The women could have been treated harshly because they were frowned upon for what they were being held in prison for, but it's still never an excuse for inappropriate care for women.


Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text. (Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Collier County Jail – Florida
Joan S. sought medical attention – age 22
-Near due date
-Leaking amniotic fluid
-Two weeks
Got ultrasound
-Fluid was completely gone
-Babies’ skull had collapsed
Jail delayed
-Transporting her to the hospital
-Giving her a shot that would prevent complications in being pregnant again later on

Miscarriages
Maricopa County Jail
Michelle M
-Punched repeatedly in the stomach by two other prisoners
-Bled heavily
Taken to doctor
-Miscarried
-Needed follow up checkups
Jail failed to bring her to her check up until she was bleeding heavily, again, and called an ambulance
-Needed blood transfusion
-Surgical procedure to remove remains of the pregnancy from her uterus

Giving birth – in some cases
Informed staff members to help women while in labor
-In cells
-Some have assistance of a nurse
Aren’t taken to doctor until after they have given birth

Nineteen-year-old Terra K. screamed, pounded on the door and asked for the nurse in the Dubuque County Jail in Iowa, only to give birth alone in her cell. Afterward she asked, “How does somebody have a baby in jail without anybody noticing?”

http://womenandprison.org/motherhood/view/pregnant_in_prison_and_denied_care/