Bipolar Mum Journey

While awaiting trial for grievous bodily harm with intent, I entered into a new relationship. Although the timing was far from ideal, I unexpectedly became pregnant. In a state of panic, I called my solicitor to ask whether I would be forced to terminate the pregnancy. She explained that some female prisons in the UK have mother and baby units, and suggested that I consider giving birth while incarcerated. This might sound unorthodox, but it was a significant relief to me.

As the months passed and my pregnancy progressed, my solicitor informed me that I would have a better chance of keeping my baby with me if I gave birth in prison rather than outside. The court kept adjourning my case to allow me more time to give birth, thereby easing the burden on the prison system. However, I was dissatisfied with these delays. At the next court hearing, I requested the judge to remand me so that I could begin serving my sentence, a decision that ultimately benefited my sentencing.

The stress of my situation began to affect my pregnancy. During a visit to the prison midwife, she informed me that my urine sample was abnormal, indicating that my baby was in distress. I was immediately handcuffed to a prison officer and taken to Peterborough Hospital. The humiliation of arriving at the hospital in handcuffs is an experience I will never forget. I remained restrained until it was confirmed that my baby had a slow heartbeat, prompting the midwife to demand that I be uncuffed.

From there, events progressed swiftly. My son was born in front of two unfamiliar prison officers, with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck four times. Had he remained in the womb for a few more days, he might not have survived. He spent the first two weeks of his life in intensive care, during which I managed to breastfeed him despite being under the constant supervision of prison officers. The hospital permitted me to stay until a place on the mother and baby unit was finally made available to us.

HMP Peterborough guidelines to raising your baby in prison.