February 22nd 2025.
Suzy, a 35-year-old mother-of-one, lay on a thin mattress in her prison cell, unable to escape the excruciating pain that had taken over her body. She was filled with worry, not knowing if she and her unborn baby were okay. All she could do was cry herself to sleep.
It had only been days since Suzy had found out she was pregnant, a huge shock for her given her current situation. She had been placed in prison while awaiting trial for a crime she was later found innocent of. During a routine medical check-up, she had discovered her pregnancy.
Unfortunately, Suzy was not alone. Last year, there were over 200 pregnant women in prisons across England and Wales, a number that had increased by 36% since last year. Shockingly, one in three of these women were on remand, meaning they had not yet been found guilty of any crime.
According to data from the Ministry of Justice, pregnant women in prison are seven times more likely to experience stillbirth and twice as likely to give birth prematurely. Unfortunately, receiving appropriate medical care in these conditions can be challenging, as Suzy experienced.
One day, Suzy woke up in agonizing pain, fearing for her baby's life. She immediately informed the prison officers, but they debated on what to do before finally deciding to take her to the hospital. Suzy was shocked to learn that their decision was not based on her needs, but rather on the availability of staff.
"To go to A&E, you need two officers to be present with you, which meant they had to find officers who would agree to go," Suzy explained. "When they finally took me, we had to go through the same security process of getting checked, patted down, and handcuffed – all while I was in excruciating pain. I could hear the officers muttering to each other about how annoyed they were because it meant they couldn't go home on time."
Even after arriving at the hospital, Suzy had to wait for several hours without knowing if her baby was okay. Eventually, she was told that there was no early pregnancy unit at that hospital, and she would have to wait until the following week when a nearby unit was open. Defeated, Suzy was taken back to her cell, and on the way, one of the officers callously said, "Maybe it's for the best." Suzy couldn't hold back her tears.
"I was devastated. I didn't even know what was wrong with me or my baby, yet I was being told that it was probably better that I wasn't pregnant at all," Suzy recalls. "When I got back to my room, I just laid down and cried myself to sleep. I was so distressed, I couldn't get out of bed. I thought I had lost my baby."
Thankfully, her baby was okay, and Suzy eventually received the necessary treatment. However, she was only allowed to go home six months later, heavily pregnant, after finally being found not guilty of her crime. Following her release, Suzy gave birth to a healthy baby via c-section and has since dedicated her efforts to helping others in similar situations.
"You lose so much in prison," Suzy says. "It not only affects the person behind bars, but it also disrupts the lives of their families and children on the outside."
Sadly, not every pregnant woman in prison is as fortunate as Suzy. In September 2021, Rianna Cleary, a teenager who pleaded guilty to robbery after being exploited by gangs, was held on remand in HMP Bronzefield. She also found out she was pregnant during her entry medical exams.
Her baby, Aisha, was born in the early hours of September 27, 2019, after Rianna had made two calls to prison staff asking for a nurse and ambulance. However, none arrived, and she was forced to give birth alone in her cell, with no help from the prison officers. Tragically, her daughter was pronounced dead later that morning after suffering brain injuries.
Even though the NHS considers all pregnancies in prison as high risk, questions are being raised about why pregnant women, 72% of whom were later found not guilty, are being subjected to such dangerous and potentially deadly situations. It's clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of pregnant women in prison.
Suzy was lying in her small, uncomfortable bed in prison, unable to escape the intense pain that was coursing through her body. She was 35 years old and pregnant, and the uncertainty of her and her unborn baby's health was overwhelming. With tears streaming down her face, all she could do was try to fall asleep in hopes that the pain would subside.
Just a few days earlier, Suzy had found out she was pregnant, a shocking discovery for a mother who already had one child. She had been placed in prison while awaiting trial for a crime she was later found innocent of. It was during a routine medical check-up that her pregnancy was revealed.
Unfortunately, Suzy was not alone in her situation. In fact, there were over 200 pregnant women in prison across England and Wales last year, a staggering number that had increased by 36% since the previous year. And shockingly, one in three of these women were being held on remand, meaning they had not yet been found guilty of any crime.
According to data from the Ministry of Justice, these women are at a much higher risk for stillbirth and premature birth, seven times and two times more likely, respectively. However, getting the proper medical care while behind bars can be incredibly challenging, as Suzy experienced firsthand.
One day, Suzy woke up in excruciating pain and was worried about her unborn child's well-being. She immediately sought help from prison officers, but instead of receiving prompt and appropriate medical attention, she had to beg for it. The officers debated what to do and eventually decided to take her to the hospital, but Suzy was shocked that their decision seemed to be based more on the availability of staff rather than her urgent medical needs.
Suzy remembers the painful experience of being transported to the hospital, handcuffed and surrounded by officers who were clearly annoyed at the inconvenience. It was a difficult and distressing time for her, and she couldn't help but feel like her well-being and that of her baby were not a top priority for those in charge.
Even after arriving at the hospital, Suzy had to wait for hours to receive treatment. And to make matters worse, she was told that there was no early pregnancy unit at that particular hospital, and she would have to wait until the following week to see a doctor. Feeling defeated and worried for her baby, Suzy was taken back to the prison and was devastated by the lack of urgency and care she had received.
Thankfully, Suzy's baby was eventually born healthy via c-section, but she was only allowed to return home six months later, after being found not guilty of her alleged crime. Looking back, Suzy reflects on the emotional toll that prison took on her and her family, and she now advocates for better treatment and support for pregnant women in prison.
But Suzy's story is not unique. In fact, there have been tragic cases where pregnant women in prison were not as fortunate as her. In September 2021, Rianna Cleary, a teenager who was exploited by gangs and pleaded guilty to robbery, was also pregnant while on remand in HMP Bronzefield. She too had found out she was pregnant during her entry medical exams.
Sadly, Rianna's baby was born in her prison cell after two calls to prison staff for help went unanswered. Her daughter, Aisha, was pronounced dead after being born with brain injuries. It's a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy that has raised questions about the safety and care of pregnant women in prison.
Even though the NHS deems all pregnancies in prison as high risk, the fact that women like Suzy and Rianna are still being put in dangerous and potentially deadly situations is unacceptable. As advocates and campaigners call for better support and resources for pregnant women in prison, it's clear that urgent changes need to be made to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable individuals and their unborn children.
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