As a nurse I was so distressed to read about the horrific experience Rianna Cleary suffered and the sad death of her baby. Being locked up with no access to healthcare and support can never be acceptable. Prison can never be a safe place to be pregnant. In the past three years, two babies have died when their mothers went into labour inside prison.

Rianna Cleary, 18, gave birth to Aisha alone in HMP Bronzefield  after officers ignored her calls for help. Her baby died after she gave birth alone in her cell overnight without medical assistance. Rihanna couldn’t understand why her calls for help were ignored, but wondered if it was because she was black, a care leaver or because of her history.  An inquest into the death of baby Aisha, has criticised both the prison and hospital involved in looking after her pregnant teenage mother.  

From April 2022 to March 2023, there were 196 pregnant women in prison. It’s time to demand an end to the imprisonment of pregnant women and new mothers.