Supporting Pregnant Women During Incarceration and Beyond

Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) helps pregnant women during incarceration and advocates for home visiting and support services after release through its MOMobile Program. Operating at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution (BWCI) and Hazel D. Plant Women’s Treatment Facility (HDP), MOMobile provides three key services and support.

• Doula services including perinatal education, advocacy, and birth support
• Parenting groups and community resources like diapers, clothing, and formula
• Case management and reentry support, assisting with child welfare navigation, housing, transportation, and connecting to social services such as SNAP, WIC, and behavioral health programs

Myra’s Journey: Five months pregnant and incarcerated for the second time, Myra enrolled in MOMobile last May. With no prenatal care and her 2-year-old daughter being cared for by her grandmother, Myra faced many challenges. Her advocate, Lenda, provided clothing, diapers, and wipes for her family; connected her with an OB-GYN and a community doula; and secured a bus pass for essential appointments.

After Myra gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Lenda helped her enroll her baby in day care, join a home visiting program, and receive breastfeeding support. Myra has since found employment, completed probation, and continues to thrive as a proud and positive parent of her two children.

MCC’s MOMobile program highlights the power of advocacy and community support in transforming lives affected by incarceration.