Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pregnant Behind Bars: Meeting the Nutrition Needs of Incarcerated Pregnant Women

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

The number of women involved in the criminal justice system has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Due to their marginalized background, incarcerated women have a complex set of health-related needs. This is especially true of those who are pregnant, a particularly vulnerable, high-risk group. Although guidelines have been developed that recommend pregnancy screening, provision of dietary supplements, regular nutritious meals, and nutritional counseling for incarcerated pregnant women, jail policies and health care protocols often fail to heed these recommendations. In this chapter, we discuss the nutritional needs of pregnant incarcerated women as well as breastfeeding in the context of the criminal justice system and consider some of the challenges in developing programming and policies to address these health-related needs. We also present findings from the William & Mary Healthy Beginnings Project, a nutrition intervention program developed for pregnant incarcerated women in Southeastern Virginia. Assessment of this program suggests that through the development of protocols and polices that consider the health-related needs of pregnant women, correctional facilities could play a pivotal role in helping incarcerated women develop healthier habits to better care for themselves and their newborns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Minton TD. Jail inmates at midyear 2011: statistical tables (NCJ-237961). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 2011. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/jim11st.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  2. Carson EA. Prisoners in 2014 (NCJ-248955). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 2015. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  3. Spjeldnes S, Goodkind S. Gender differences and offender reentry: a review of the literature. J Offender Rehabil. 2009;48:314–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509670902850812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ferszt GG, Clarke JG. Health care of pregnant women in US state prisons. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2012;23:557–69. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2012.0048.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dallaire DH, Forestell CA, Shlafer R. Policy, programs, and interventions regarding pregnant incarcerated women. In: Arditti J, Le Roux T, editors. And justice for all: families and the criminal justice system. Ann Arbor: Michigan; 2015. p. 39–58.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Goshin LS, Arditti JA, Dallaire DH, Shlafer RJ, Hollihan A. An international human rights perspective on maternal criminal justice involvement in the United States. Psychol Public Policy Law. 2017;23:53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Carson EA, Sabol WJ. Prisoners in 2011 (NCJ 239808). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 2012. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p11.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  8. Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. Reproductive health care for incarcerated women and adolescent females. Committee opinion no. 535. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120:425–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e318268052d.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. James DJ, Glaze LE. Mental health problems of prison and jail inmates (NCJ 213600). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 2006. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/mhppji.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  10. Bloom B, Owen B, Covington S. Women offenders and the gendered effects of public policy. Rev Policy Res. 2004;21:31–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-1338.2004.00056.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Greenfeld LA, Snell TL. Women offenders (NCJ-175688). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 1999. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/wo.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  12. Fazel S, Bains P, Doll H. Substance abuse and dependence in prisoners: a systematic review. Addiction. 2006;101:181–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01316.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Grella CE, Lovinger K, Warda US. Relationships among trauma exposure, familial characteristics, and PTSD: a case-control study of women in prison and in the general population. Women Crim Just. 2013;23:63–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2013.743376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Brennan T, Breitenbach M, Dieterich W, Salisbury EJ, Van Voorhis P. Women’s pathways to serious and habitual crime: a person-centered analysis incorporating gender responsive factors. Crim Justice Behav. 2012;39:1481–508. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854812456777.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Salisbury EJ, Van Voorhis P. Gendered pathways: a quantitative investigation of women probationers’ paths to incarceration. Crim Justice Behav. 2009;36:541–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854809334076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Tyndall MW, Patrick D, Spittal P, Li K, O'Shaughnessy MV, Schechter MT. Risky sexual behaviours among injection drugs users with high HIV prevalence: implications for STD control. Sex Transm Infect. 2002;78(Suppl 1):i170–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.78.suppl_1.i170.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Clarke JG, Hebert MR, Rosengard C, Rose JS, DaSilva KM, Stein MD. Reproductive health care and family planning needs among incarcerated women. Am J Public Health. 2006;96:834–9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2004.060236.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Bell JF, Zimmerman FJ, Cawthon ML, Huebner CE, Ward DH, Schroeder CA. Jail incarceration and birth outcomes. J Urban Health. 2004;81:630–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jth146.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Maruschak LM. Medical problems of jail inmates (NCJ-210696). In: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Department of Justice. 2006. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/mpji.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  20. Cordero L, Hines S, Shibley KA, Landon MB. Duration of incarceration and perinatal outcome. Obstet Gynecol. 1991;78(4):641–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Martin SL, Rieger RH, Kupper LL, Meyer RE, Qaqish BF. The effect of incarceration during pregnancy on birth outcomes. Public Health Rep. 1997;112:340–6.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Women’s health care in correctional settings. 2014. http://www.ncchc.org/women%E2%80%99s-health-care. Accessed 4 Jun 2016.

  23. Timmermans S, Jaddoe VW, Hofman A, Steegers-Theunissen RP, Steegers EA. Periconception folic acid supplementation, fetal growth and the risks of low birth weight and preterm birth: the Generation R Study. Br J Nutr. 2009;102(5):777–85. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509288994.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Peña-Rosas JP, De-Regi LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE. Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004736. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Collins SA, Thompson SH. What are we feeding our inmates? J Correct Health Care. 2012;18(3):210–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078345812444875.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Shlafer R. Jail administrators’ perspectives of the services and needs of pregnant women incarcerated in county jails. In: 142nd American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association (APHA); 2014. https://apha.confex.com/apha/142am/webprogram/Paper303178.html. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  27. Liu J, Raine A. The effect of childhood malnutrition on externalizing behavior. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2006;18:565–70. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mop.0000245360.13949.91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Olsen SF, Hansen HS, Secher NJ, Jensen B, Sandström B. Gestation length and birth weight in relation to intake of marine n-3 fatty acids. Br J Nutr. 1995;73:397–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Freeman M, Hibbeln JR, Wisner KL, Brumbach BH, Watchman M, Gelenberg AJ. Randomized dose-ranging pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids for postpartum depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006;113:31–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00660.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Lapillonne A. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may impair maternal and fetal outcomes. Med Hypotheses. 2010;74:71–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.07.054.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Washington: National Academy Press; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Hollis BW, Johnson D, Hulsey TC, Ebeling M, Wagner CL. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and effectiveness. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26:2341–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.463.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Forestell CA, Mennella JA. Food, folklore and flavor preference development. In: Lammi-Keefe CJ, Couch SC, Philipson E, editors. Handbook of nutrition and pregnancy. Totowa: Humana Press; 2008. p. 55–64.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Godderis R. Dining in: the symbolic power of food in prison. Howard J Crim Just. 2006;45:255–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2311.2006.00420.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Cate S. “Breaking bread with spread” in a San Francisco County jail. Gastronomica. 2008;8:17–24. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/gfc.2008.8.3.17?origin=JSTOR-pdf&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Godfrey KM, Lillycrop KA, Burdge GC, Gluckman PD, Hanson MA. Epigenetic mechanisms and the mismatch concept of the developmental origins of health and disease. Pediatr Res. 2007;61:5R–10R. https://doi.org/10.1203/pdr.0b013e318045bedb.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Burdge GC, Slater-Jefferies J, Torrens C, Phillips ES, Hanson MA, Lillycrop KA. Dietary protein restriction of pregnant rats in the F0 generation induces altered methylation of hepatic gene promoters in the adult male offspring in the F1 and F2 generations. Br J Nutr. 2007;97:435–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507352392.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Kelsey CM, Medel N, Mullins C, Dallaire D, Forestell C. An examination of care practices of pregnant women incarcerated in jail facilities in the United States. Matern Child Health J. 2017:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2224-5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Silver HM. Listeriosis during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1998;53:737–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Procter SB, Campbell CG. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: nutrition and lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy outcome. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114:1099–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.05.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Shlafer RJ, Stang J, Dallaire D, Forestell CA, Hellerstedt W. Best practices for nutrition care of pregnant women in prison. J Correct Health Care. 2017;23(3):297–304. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078345817716567.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Dallaire DH, Holmquist Z, Kelsey C. Healthy beginnings in difficult environments: the William & Mary Healthy Beginnings Project. Healthy Generations Newsletter. Winter 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Boyd NR, Windsor RA. A formative evaluation in maternal and child health practice: the partners for life nutrition education program for pregnant women. Matern Child Health J. 2003;7:137–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Sachdeva R, Mann SK. Impact of nutrition education and medical supervision on pregnancy outcome. Indian Pediatr. 1993;30:1309–14.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2012;129:e827–41. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on postnatal care of the mother and newborn. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/97603/1/9789241506649_eng.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2016.

  47. Mennella JA, Jagnow CP, Beauchamp GK. Prenatal and postnatal flavor learning by human infants. Pediatrics. 2001;107(6):E88. https://doi.org/10.1159/000323397.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Galloway AT, Lee Y, Birch LL. Predictors and consequences of food neophobia and pickiness in young girls. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:692–8. https://doi.org/10.1053/jada.2003.50134.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Shim JE, Kim J, Mathai RA, STRONG Kids Research Team. Associations of infant feeding practices and picky eating behaviors of preschool children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111:1363–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.06.410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Else-Quest NM, Hyde JS, Clark R. Breastfeeding, bonding, and the mother-infant relationship. Merrill-Palmer Q. 2003;49:495–517. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2003.0020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Britton C, McCormick FM, Renfrew MJ, Wade A, King SE. Support for breastfeeding mothers (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;1:CD001141. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001141.pub3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Poehlmann J. Incarcerated mothers’ contact with children, perceived family relationships, and depressive symptoms. J Fam Psychol. 2005;19(3):350–7. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.3.350.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Wismont JM. The lived pregnancy experience of women in prison. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2000;45:292–300. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Ystrom E. Breastfeeding cessation and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a longitudinal cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012;12:36. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Ystrom E, Niegel S, Klepp KI, Vollrath ME. The impact of maternal negative affectivity and general self-efficacy on breastfeeding: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. J Pediatr. 2008;152:68–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.06.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Libster NR. Breastfeeding initiation among women who have experience with incarceration. College of William & Mary undergraduate honors theses. Paper 933. 2016. http://publish.wm.edu/honorstheses/933. Accessed 1 Aug 2016.

  57. Dennis CL. Breastfeeding initiation and duration: a 1990–2000 literature review. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2002;31:12–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Corbett KS. Explaining infant feeding style of low-income black women. J Pediatr Nurs. 2000;15:73–81. https://doi.org/10.1053/jn.2000.5445.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Guise JM, Palda V, Westhoff C, Chan BK, Helfand M, Lieu TA. The effectiveness of primary care-based interventions to promote breastfeeding: systematic evidence review and meta-analysis for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Fam Med. 2003;1:70–8. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.56.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Hannon PR, Willis SK, Bishop-Townsend V, Martinez IM, Scrimshaw SC. African-American and Latina adolescent mothers’ infant feeding decisions and breastfeeding practices: a qualitative study. J Adolesc Health. 2000;26:399–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00076-2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Huang K, Atlas R, Parvez F. The significance of breastfeeding to incarcerated pregnant women: an exploratory study. Birth. 2012;39:145–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2012.00528.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. Schafer E, Vogel MK, Viegas S, Hausafus C. Volunteer peer counselors increase breastfeeding duration among rural low-income women. Birth. 1998;25:101–6. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-536x.1998.00101.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Warner J. Infants in orange: an international model-based approach to prison nurseries. Hastings Women’s Law J. 2015;26:65–91.

    Google Scholar 

  64. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Weight gain during pregnancy. Committee opinion no. 548. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;121:210–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Dallaire DH, Forestell CA, Kelsey C, Ptachick B, McDonnell K. A nutrition-based program for pregnant incarcerated women. J Offender Rehabil. 2017;56:277–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2017.1306008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA

    Catherine A. Forestell & Danielle H. Dallaire

Authors
  1. Catherine A. Forestell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Danielle H. Dallaire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine A. Forestell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Carol J. Lammi-Keefe

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Sarah C. Couch

  3. Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    John P. Kirwan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Forestell, C.A., Dallaire, D.H. (2018). Pregnant Behind Bars: Meeting the Nutrition Needs of Incarcerated Pregnant Women. In: Lammi-Keefe, C., Couch, S., Kirwan, J. (eds) Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90988-2_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90988-2_16

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90986-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-90988-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation