The Lost Mothers Project – An Exhibition

What’s on offer?

This groundbreaking exhibition, showcases artwork, poems, a podcast, and photographs based on research findings to highlight the emotional and complex challenges faced by pregnant and postnatal women in prison, especially those separated from their newborns. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of these issues and advocate for more compassionate care and support.

What’s it about?

In the UK numbers of pregnant women are not routinely collated, however estimations suggest that 6-7% of the female prison population are at varying stages of pregnancy and approximately 100 babies are born to incarcerated women each year. There are no exact data of the numbers of newborn babies removed from their mother at or soon after birth. There are six Mother and Baby Units (MBU) in the 12 women’s prisons in the UK, currently, all underutilised. Accounts from qualitative research of women being mandatorily separated from their new-born babies demonstrate a deep sense of loss, yet surprisingly little research has examined experiences of the process of separating mothers from their babies. The study that this exhibition is based on is the first project to link the professions of social work, health visiting, midwifery and criminal justice staff, with the experiences of women who have been in prison at the heart of the research.

Recommendations arising from this research have the potential to build upon and further improve understanding of women’s experiences and the procedures involved in removal of new-borns from their imprisoned mothers. The project will benefit academic and health research, notably the sociology of health and illness, criminology, midwifery, health visiting and social work. It’s also important to raise public awareness around this issue, to help improve the lives of incarcerated pregnant women and mothers.

Who’s leading the event?

Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and an Associate Professor in Research at the University of Hertfordshire, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives. Laura’s work is nationally recognised, policy influencing, and making a difference in the lives of incarcerated pregnant women and mothers.

Open to

Adults

Of particular interest to

The event will be of interest to the general public, particularly to those interested in social work and social policy.  

Event Booking details

Event booking information to be confirmed