Pregnant inmates — Ask the Inmate
Pregnancy during incarceration raises urgent and complex questions about medical care, the rights of the mother and child, delivery procedures, and what happens to the baby after birth. Facilities have widely varying policies on prenatal care, childbirth accommodations, and whether mothers can keep their newborns with them even temporarily. This section covers what medical care pregnant inmates are legally entitled to, how delivery is typically handled at correctional facilities, what happens to the baby immediately after birth, whether the mother can breastfeed or maintain contact with her newborn, what family members can do to support a pregnant incarcerated loved one, and what legal protections exist for pregnant inmates under federal and state law. The answers here are written with the urgency this topic deserves. Pregnancy inside a correctional facility is a situation that requires immediate and accurate information. See also our sections on Medical Treatment and Family Services.
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The baby is handed over to social services for placement until her release and then rejoined after being approved for the child's custody
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Read moreWe are sorry to report that there is absolutely nothing you can do in this situation. The prison officials will make certain she is taken care of during and after delivery and will find the proper family member to care for the baby.
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