Special program aids incarcerated mothers-to-be

LAND O’ LAKES -- Expectant mothers who are incarcerated in the Pasco County detention center here have access to a special program that can assist them in both pre- and post-natal care.

Started in 2001, the Birth Behind Bars program sends doulas into the jail twice a month to provide pregnant inmates with information and support about their upcoming births. The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. 

These doulas are unpaid volunteers, not medical personnel, and do not give medical advice. The pregnant inmates still see a medical caregiver during the time that they are incarcerated.  But doulas do provide a lot of important information to the inmates about the changes that their bodies are undergoing, provide encouragement, and answer questions about the birthing process and labor techniques.

“We also teach them to take care of themselves once they are out of jail and to bond with their babies,” said Janice Banther, executive director of the Birth Behind Bars program.  She also is the executive director of a Tarpon Springs-based nonprofit that offers childhood education classes and doula services for disadvantaged women.

Participation in the doula program at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center is voluntary. In 2008, the number of women who were pregnant averaged about five a month.  During a recent meeting of the twice-a-month program, six women attended out of the 12 who were pregnant at the time.  Of these, three were pregnant with their first baby.  About 160 women have gone through the program since its inception.

“Our main goal is to change the mother’s lifestyle,” Banther said.  “We encourage them to eat well.  At least while they are here, they aren’t getting fast foods and fat.”  Part of the doula’s instruction is healthy eating, and the women do get an additional daily snack while pregnant in jail.

Banther created a booklet for the women to read for the program, titled I’m Pregnant, Now What Do I Do?  It describes the various changes their bodies go through during pregnancy, and the labor process.  The doulas scan the bellies of the inmates with a fetal Doppler device that picks up the heartbeat of their babies for the mothers-to-be to hear.  The excitement of the inmates shows on their faces as many of them hear the sound for the first time.

If requested, the doulas will attend but not participate in the delivery of an inmate’s baby.  Soon after the delivery, the inmate is returned to the detention center and the baby is given either to the father or a competent relative who can care for the child.  The doulas also monitor the new mothers after the birth for signs of postpartum depression.

The program has recently expanded to include male inmates who may have children or become fathers.  The course taught to the male inmates is called “Why Do Babies Cry?” 

Banther has been contacted by former inmates who tell her the importance of the program.

“Some of them say the program changed their life,” she said.  “We try to give these women skills because we don’t want frequent fliers in the Pasco County jail.”