Professor Laura Abbott

We're all over the moon about #LostMothers win at last night's @cjalliance.bsky.social awards!
Driven throughout by women with experience of maternal imprisonment & separation, this research really was ground-breaking. What a privilege to be involved.
@midwifeteacher.bsky.social@cleanbrk.bsky.social

University of Hertfordshire's and a quote from her reading: “At a policy level, the project’s evidence has fed directly into reform. In April 2025, the Sentencing Council for England and Wales introduced landmark guidance explicitly recognising pregnancy and the postnatal period as mitigating factors in sentencing decisions. This change, supported by data from our research...and sustained engagement with the Sentencing Council, represents a significant policy milestone.”

✍️ In our latest blog, Professor Laura Abbott writes about her impactful research into maternal care in prison, that helped inform landmark sentencing reform earlier this year.

🔗 bit.ly/435MAcb

@midwifeteacher.bsky.social
@herts.ac.uk

We're excited to share the @arceastofengland.bsky.social Impact Summary 2025!

This year, we have:
💡£16.5M in external funding
🫂Established a new carer #research network
🧩Worked with 200+ organisations

Read how we’re driving change here🔗 arc-eoe.nihr.ac.uk/news-blogs/n...

#CelebratingARCEoEImpact

@kingslsm.bsky.social @oxpop.bsky.social @birthcompanions.bsky.social @midwifeteacher.bsky.social @nihrarcs.bsky.social

Watch @arceastofengland.bsky.social @midwifeteacher.bsky.social Dr Laura Abbott's talk in the recording of this year's national #ARCseminar webinar:

'Exploring lived experience with creative arts'

👁️🔊▶️
arc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/news/NE...

💙
chaired by @arc-gm.bsky.social

Delighted that our @herts.ac.uk #ESRC @arceastofengland.bsky.social @birthcompanions.bsky.social @lostmothers.bsky.social Lost Mothers Project has been shortlisted for the 2025 Criminal Justice Alliance Award 4 Research Excellence ❤️🎉 recognising our work on separation of mothers & babies in prison

Dr Laura Abbott (University of Hertfordshire) has been nominated for Research & Innovation Impact at the #AllianceAwards2025!

Her research on maternal justice has led to policy change, including pregnancy being recognised as a mitigating factor in sentencing.

🔗 buff.ly/Z5ooUgF

Thanks so much Louca-Mai! 🎉❤️

Thrilled to share that I’ve been promoted to Professor of Maternal Health and Criminal Justice at Uni of Hertfordshire - It’s a milestone that reflects not just my work, but the power of collaboration, listening to women, and pushing for change where it’s most needed 💜 @birthcompanions.bsky.social

@midwifeteacher.bsky.social

@lancasteruni.bsky.social

@lancasteruni.bsky.social @cleanbrk.bsky.social

Mothers chatting with their babies

Mothers cradling their babies

Performers take a bow, researcher Dr Laura Abbott stands clapping

We are watching 'Scenes from Lost Mothers', a new play from @cleanbrk.bsky.social‬. This performance shines a light on the real experiences of women navigating pregnancy and separation from their babies while in prison.
@midwifeteacher.bsky.social @uhertfordshireucu.bsky.social

lostmothers.org

On 16th July @cleanbrk.bsky.social Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s brilliant ‘Scenes from Lost Mothers’ will be performed in Heslington. Generously funded by Y&S Hospitals Charity - tickets are free but going fast! See details here and please do share! @herts.ac.uk @rcm.org.uk
@birthcompanions.bsky.social

On 16th July @cleanbrk.bsky.social Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s brilliant ‘Scenes from Lost Mothers’ will be performed in Heslington. Generously funded by Y&S Hospitals Charity - tickets are free but going fast! See details here and please do share! @herts.ac.uk @rcm.org.uk
@birthcompanions.bsky.social

NIHR National Institute for Health and Care Research #ARCseminar Image: Close-up picture of a paintbrush painting bright watercolours

2025's second #ARCseminar - chaired by @arc-gm.bsky.social - is at 1pm TODAY!

Exploring lived experience with creative arts
www.eventbrite.com/cc/nihr-arcs...

@ucl.ac.uk @midwifeteacher.bsky.social @arceastofengland.bsky.social @cleanbrk.bsky.social @birthcompanions.bsky.social @arc-em.bsky.social

Pregnant women and new mothers offered more flexible sentencing options in today’s Sentencing Review

We are delighted to see explicit recognition of the harms of prison for pregnant women and new mothers in today's Sentencing Review, with clear alternatives inc. suspended and deferred sentencing and increased community support set out.
Our full response: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/res...

Last week the final report from the Lost Mothers project was published, a ground-breaking piece of research from @herts.ac.uk and @birthcompanions.bsky.social.

Read @midwifeteacher.bsky.social's summary of the project's heart-breaking, yet galvanising findings: bit.ly/CBDrLauraAbb...

What happens when motherhood begins behind bars?

Join Dr Laura Abbott on Maternity & Midwifery Hour as we explore pregnancy in criminal justice settings.

14 May | 7PM UK
Register for free: shorturl.at/hJNz2

#MidwiferyHour #Matflix #PregnancyBehindBars #CPD

Thanks Elizabeth and so pleased you could join us ☺️

The Lost Mothers Project Focusing on the needs and experiences of women who are separated from their infants due to imprisonment

On Thursday we launched the Lost Mothers Project findings @birthcompanions.bsky.social @britishlibrary.bsky.social Powerful performances from @cleanbrk.bsky.social, art by Beci Ward. Experiences shared reveal a depth of unimaginable pain - ‘…my whole body craved him’ Time 4 change is now.

Thanks so much for coming Jenny ☺️

It was a privilege to have been here & see ‘Scenes from lost mothers’ from @cleanbrk.bsky.social I left emotional & angry that in our society we are so inhumane how we treat women & children.1/2

Looking forward to being at this today

It’s an extraordinary & moving event, mixing research evidence, lived experience in drama form & panel discussion among expert & informed people. Clear & doable policy asks are in the report: just do it @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social

‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison? First they had to give birth in custody, then their babies were taken away. Sometimes they never got them back. Here’s what 29 women told the Lost Mothers Project

‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Our team are looking forward to launching the findings of our Lost Mothers project today at The British Library @birthcompanions.bsky.social Featuring the excellent Scenes from Lost Mothers by @cleanbrk.bsky.social
@herts.ac.uk #ESRC @nihrarcs.bsky.social

Brilliant to see my @herts.ac.uk colleague @midwifeteacher.bsky.social's co-produced #LostMothers research featured in the Grauniad 👏👏

‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison? First they had to give birth in custody, then their babies were taken away. Sometimes they never got them back. Here’s what 29 women told the Lost Mothers Project

Powerful piece on the separation of babies from their mothers in prison based on the ‘Lost Mothers’ research led by @midwifeteacher.bsky.social

If more evidence was needed to persuade anyone that pregnant women should not be imprisoned, this is it.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison? First they had to give birth in custody, then their babies were taken away. Sometimes they never got them back. Here’s what 29 women told the Lost Mothers Project

Really good to see @midwifeteacher.bsky.social's important work featured in the national media. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison? First they had to give birth in custody, then their babies were taken away. Sometimes they never got them back. Here’s what 29 women told the Lost Mothers Project

Fascinating (& horrifying) to read about @midwifeteacher.bsky.social's Lost Mothers Project today. I've been thinking a lot recently about how we represent & experience breastfeeding & milk production (or suppression) within prisons & other systems of oppression.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Interesting article about the Lost Mothers Project from @midwifeteacher.bsky.social who recently met with @academichv.bsky.social for one of our Supporting Early Minds webinars

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/u...