Women’s experiences of breastfeeding in prison

This paper forms part of wider research to explore women’s perinatal experiences whilst in prison and aims to consider how women learn about breastfeeding, and the postnatal experience of breastfeeding, lactation and expressing milk for separated babies in prison. 

During 2015–2016 audio-recorded semi-structured interviews sought to discover the experiences of 28 pregnant women and new mothers in prison in England. Women were either pregnant at the time of interview, residing with their babies on a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) within a prison, separated postnatally from their babies, or interviewed post-release.

By Laura Abbott and Tricia Scott

Published in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest