‘Alarming’ data reveals high diabetes risk for pregnant women in English jails
Pregnant women in prison in England are three times more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes than those on the outside, according to “alarming” new data,Figures obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests to NHS trusts providing healthcare to women’s prisons in England found 12% of women receiving care relating to pregnancy in 2023 were diagnosed with the condition, triple the national figure of 4%,Gestational diabetes develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs of pregnancy,It can lead to complications in pregnancy and can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life,Laura Abbott, associate professor in midwifery at Hertfordshire University, said these figures were “alarming but not surprising”.
“We have known for many years that preterm birth is more common among incarcerated pregnant women, and this further highlights the severe health risks they face,” she said.“Gestational diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, serious conditions that require early detection, good nutrition and careful obstetric management, which is extremely difficult in a prison setting.It can also increase the risk of stillbirth.”There were 215 pregnant women in prison in England between April 2023 and March 2024, according to figures published by the Ministry of Justice.There were 52 births while in custody, 98% of which took place in hospital.
The NHS and Prison Ombudsman categorise all pregnancies in prison as high risk,Pregnant women in prison are seven times more likely to have a stillbirth and twice as likely to go into premature labour, according to data from FoI requests in 2022,In 2019, newborn Aisha Cleary died at HMP Bronzefield after her mother, who was in prison on remand, was left to give birth alone in her cell,Louise Powell, who gave birth to a stillborn baby in a toilet at HMP & YOI Styal in 2020 after her emergency calls went unanswered, told the Guardian last year: “No woman should have to give birth behind bars,”Amelia, who asked to remain anonymous, was 16 weeks pregnant when she entered prison and was later diagnosed by the prison midwife with gestational diabetes.
A specific meal plan was recommended by the NHS to help manage the condition, but Amelia said the prison refused to implement it, and refused her additional supplements and prescriptions.She said she was given mouldy fruit: “I remember being given raspberries that had blue fur on them, and when I complained to the officer, I was told that it was a privilege to get any fruit.”Despite the additional risks associated with gestational diabetes, Amelia missed midwifery appointments and developed high blood pressure and sciatica during her pregnancy.“I have previously had a miscarriage and this was my miracle pregnancy.I was terrified I would lose another baby,” she said.
Amelia’s sentence was overturned during her pregnancy and, a week after her release, she went into premature labour, having an emergency c-section, which she attributes to the high stress and poor health caused by the prison environment.“I’m quite a strong person, but I’m mentally scarred by the experience I had being pregnant in prison.I still wake up in a sweat with night terrors, and I rarely go out of my house now.Prison is so unhealthy – not only for mothers, but the baby as well.I’m so grateful to be out, but the effects of being pregnant in prison will be everlasting.
”In April last year, the Sentencing Council introduced pregnancy as a mitigating factor for judges when sentencing,As the Independent Sentencing Review published its initial findings last week and the government’s newly appointed Women’s Justice Board begins work, to reduce the number of women sent to prison, calls are growing to end the imprisonment of pregnant women,Sign up to ObservedAnalysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion“Prison is no place for pregnant women,There are better, safer alternatives, such as community sentencing, which should be prioritised wherever possible,” says Clare Livingstone, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives,“The RCM believes that the sentencing of pregnant women needs radical reform.
We believe every aspect of the criminal justice system should be aligned towards ensuring mothers and babies are kept together, wherever possible, in the best interests of the child.”Janey Starling, co-director of Level Up, a feminist campaign group, said: “Prison will never be a safe place for pregnant women.Several other countries, including Costa Rica and Brazil, have laws against the use of imprisonment for pregnant women and mothers.It’s time the government follows international best practice and ends the profoundly cruel practice of incarcerating pregnant women, and mothers and babies.”A government spokesperson said: “This account is deeply concerning.
It is an example of why the Lord Chancellor has launched the Women’s Justice Board so that fewer women end up in prison, particularly those who are pregnant or mothers.“We have specialist midwives and pregnancy, mother and baby liaison officers in every women’s prison, and NHS England now treats all pregnancies in prison as clinically high risk.”
UK defence firm Chemring ‘targeted’ by private equity firm Bain Capital– business live
The boss of Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest lender, is hoping that the country’s next government can crack on and fix the ailing economy.Christian Sewing, who is also president of the association of German banks, says:“Germany now needs a government that is able and willing to act - and quickly.“The challenges facing our country are enormous: The economy urgently needs a fresh start with fundamental reforms.”Christian Bruch, CEO of power equipment supplier Siemens Energy, hopes a coalition will be formed quickly so politicians can rebuild Germany’s competitiveness.“Actions in energy policy are crucial for this
Just Eat Takeaway.com bought by South Africa’s Prosus in €4bn deal
The food delivery business Just Eat Takeaway.com has been snapped up by an investor in its German rival Delivery Hero for €4.1bn (£3.4bn), two months after it left the London Stock Exchange.Just Eat’s board has unanimously approved the takeover by the South African-owned internet investor Prosus, in an all-cash deal six years after Prosusmade its first effort to buy the British part of the business
UK delays plans to regulate AI as ministers seek to align with Trump administration
Ministers have delayed plans to regulate artificial intelligence as the UK government seeks to align itself with Donald Trump’s administration on the technology, the Guardian has learned. A long-awaited AI bill, which ministers had originally intended to publish before Christmas, is not expected to appear in parliament before the summer, according to three Labour sources briefed on the plans. Ministers had intended to publish a short bill within months of entering office that would have required companies to hand over large AI models such as ChatGPT for testing by the UK’s AI Security Institute.The bill was intended to be the government’s answer to concerns that AI models could become so advanced that they pose a risk to humanity, and were different from separate proposals to clarify how AI companies can use copyrighted material. Trump’s election has led to a rethink, however
More than 150,000 Canadians sign petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship
More than 150,000 people from Canada have signed a parliamentary petition calling for their country to strip Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship because of the tech billionaire’s alliance with Donald Trump, who has spent his second US presidency repeatedly threatening to conquer its independent neighbor to the north and turn it into its 51st state.British Columbia author Qualia Reed launched the petition in Canada’s House of Commons, where it was sponsored by New Democrat parliamentary member and avowed Musk critic Charlie Angus, as the Canadian Press first reported over the weekend.Born in South Africa and helming US companies including electric vehicle-maker Tesla, aerospace company SpaceX and the social media platform Twitter/X, Musk has Canadian citizenship through his mother, who is from Saskatchewan’s capital, Regina. He has been crusading to slash the US federal government’s size at the behest of the US president, who has consistently challenged Canada’s sovereignty since returning to the White House for a second presidential term on 20 January.Reed’s petition – filed on 20 February – accuses Musk of having “engaged in activities that go against the national interest of Canada” by acting as an adviser to Trump
Brydon Carse set to miss England’s crucial Champions Trophy tie against Afghanistan
Brydon Carse appears set to be ruled out for England’s must-win game against Afghanistan this week – and possibly the remainder of their Champions Trophy campaign – after being a notable absentee at training on Monday.Jos Buttler’s men head into Wednesday’s day-nighter at the Gaddafi Stadium desperate for victory following their chastening five-wicket defeat to Australia on the same ground last Saturday. Carse, who had been touch and go to play due to a toe injury, finished as their most expensive bowler on the night, going at 9.85 per over.That issue – a blister that required stitches and saw Carse miss a chunk of the recent India tour – is believed to have flared up once more, with the 29-year-old missing when England were put through their paces two days out from facing Afghanistan
Can Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles go from injury to the WNBA’s No 1 draft pick?
After bouncing back remarkably from a major knee injury, the Fighting Irish point guard could overtake UConn’s Paige Bueckers in AprilThere aren’t a lot of people who can tell you what it feels like to enter college knowing professional teams already see you as a potential No 1 draft pick four years down the road. There are even fewer who can share how they prepared to hit a college court as an early enrollee, starting on a team with players three to four years older than them.There are fewer still who had all that under their belts and then suffered a season-ending (and potentially career-ending) injury a year later – and who bounced back in such a tremendous way.Notre Dame point guard Olivia Miles is pretty special. Despite the fact that she may overtake Paige Bueckers as this year’s No 1 pick in the WNBA draft, the 22-year-old is still low-key
Starmer unlikely to unveil plan for rise in defence spending this week, says minister
‘Starmer’s big moment’: can PM persuade Trump not to give in to Putin?
Keir Starmer lays down Ukraine peace demand ahead of Trump talks
Open-mouthed Farage struggles to find his voice as GB News is caught between Trump, its viewers and reality
Konstantin Kisin: anti-woke libertarian who reluctantly calls himself ‘right wing’
UK populists mix faith and politics with parroting of ‘Judeo-Christian values’