The Birth Charter has been developed to help inform the Government’s ongoing review of the treatment of these vulnerable women and their babies, and to improve current practice across the Prison Service, on aspects ranging from antenatal care and birthing partners to breastfeeding, family visits and counselling. This module introduces the Birth Charter taking you through the comprehensive recommendations for Government and the Prison Service on improving care for the 600 pregnant women and 100 new mothers held in prisons in England and Wales each year.

At the end of this module, midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers will:

• understand some of the complex needs of vulnerable women who are in prison through the perinatal period.
• have gained knowledge of The Birth Charter for women in prison in England and Wales which gives specific guidance and recommendations of best practice for women in prison during the perinatal period.
• have considered and reflected upon the issues faced by women who are pregnant in prison.

Study time: 15 minutes

Original content: 2016