The Lived Pregnancy Experience of Women in Prison

Abstract

The professional literature reflects limited awareness of and/or concern for the effects of incarceration on the physical and psychological dimensions of childbearing. The purpose of this study was to describe the childbearing experience as reported by pregnant incarcerated women. Giorgi's phenomenological method was used. Apprehension, grief, subjugation, and relatedness were the essential themes related to the experience of childbearing in prison which emerged from the analysis of the transcripts of the journal entries and interview data. Incarceration was the fulcrum on which the women's pregnancy experiences balanced. Rapidly rising numbers of women imprisoned in the United States underscore the urgency to better understand their experiences. Health care providers must find ways to help female inmates cope more effectively with the role diffusion/confusion they experience as they live two diametrically opposing roles--those of inmate and mother. Correctional facilities must also be assisted in establishing policies that recognize the unique needs of pregnant incarcerated women.

The outcomes of pregnancy among imprisoned women: a systematic review

“…Limited research examining psychological problems in pregnant women has found that imprisoned mothers were more stressed, anxious and depressed than the general population 6 . Other research has documented the adverse psychosocial aspects of prison on pregnant women 26,37–39 ; while imprisoned women in general have high rates of psychiatric disorders, 40 pregnancy brings specific problems—women feel more isolated, more powerless and they are anxious about possible separation from their babies 37,38 . Additionally these studies do not consider the effects of imprisonment on a woman's existing children, and imprisoned women's concerns about those children.…”

Impact of Forced Separation Policy on Incarcerated Postpartum Mothers

“…The psychological impact of forced separation on mothers and babies remains largely ignored. The few studies that explored inmate maternal response to forced separation (Carlson, 1998;Osborne, 1995;Wismont, 2000) are not current. A more recent study reported feelings of loss, pain, grief, and anxiety among incarcerated postpartum women (Schroeder & Bell, 2005), although the study stopped short of examining the strategies that the women used to address their feelings resulting from being separated from their newborns.…”

Factors that support successful transition to the community among women leaving prison in British Columbia: a prospective cohort study using participatory action research

“…25 This highlights the potential benefit of teaching online health literacy skills during incarceration; however, prisoners are not permitted to access the Internet. The protective effect of being a mother has been documented: 26 concern about appropriate child care 27 is a strong deterrent to recommencing criminal activity. The number of children whose mothers are incarcerated in Canada is unknown.…”