An introduction to the research behind our touring production, Scenes from Lost Mothers
Over the last few years there have been great strides in campaigning for pregnant women experiencing criminalisation. The poor outcomes for women and their babies have received sharp media attention, with headlines revealing the distressing fact that women in prison are seven times more likely to suffer a stillbirth [1].
A focus is now needed on the post-natal experience of women and their babies and young children. In 2023-24, 229 pregnant women were held in prison and 53 imprisoned women gave birth [2].
While it is estimated that that 55% of women in prison have children [3] and over 17,500 children were separated from their mothers by imprisonment in 2020 [4], there is no concrete data about how many are separated after birth in prison, or who came into prison leaving an infant behind.
Without adequate data and without listening to the voices of women, it is impossible to make the changes that are so urgently needed for mothers and their children.
There is growing evidence that shows poor outcomes for women who spend their pregnancy awaiting the possibility of separation, and women who are compulsorily separated from their babies. These include mental ill health and higher risk of self-harm.
The Lost Mothers Project is a study led by Dr Laura Abbott, a midwife and researcher at the University of Hertfordshire. With the voices of women with lived experience at its heart, the project explores the effects of mandatory separation of babies from women in the criminal justice system, as well as the experiences of prison staff and other professionals who work with them.
The findings of the project uncover the reality of the statistics highlighted above: they show the deep pain of separating mothers from their babies, and through this, women’s incredible ability to hold onto hope.
In uncovering this evidence, the Lost Mothers Project aims to bring health, social care and prison professionals together to work on new guidance, which actively supports women who are separated from their babies by the criminal justice system.
The findings of the project will be published in a report in May 2025.
Scenes from Lost Mothers is a new play from Clean Break, written by acclaimed playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti. The play brings to life the findings of the Lost Mothers project, and platforms the voices of the many women who brought their lived experience to the research.
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Playwright - “When speaking to mothers in prison, I came to realise that our broken system simply perpetuates another kind of brokenness.
I saw how becoming a mother could unlock fresh potential in women, but that sense of hope was too often crushed by the oppressive patterns and structures which are part of daily life in an institution.
It’s time for radical action and for the justice system to start viewing mothers and pregnant women as human beings instead of problems that cannot be solved.”
Scenes from Lost Mothers is designed to be performed in professional and educational settings. The play presents challenging and complex material in a creative and accessible way, sharing the perspectives of women awaiting separation from their babies with those who are responsible for their care. To book a performance for your workplace or university, please contact Clean Break’s Producer dezh.zhelyazkova@cleanbreak.org.uk
There will be two public performances of the play on 25 and 26 March, at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Limited tickets are available, click here to book.
