How We Came About

Prison birth support in Virginia was conceived in 2018 when we asked ourselves, “What happens when a pregnant person gets locked up?” It became clear that incarcerated birthing people were laboring alone in the hospital amid ever-present armed security staff and no designated support partner. Days after delivering a newborn, these new parents are separated from baby and returned to prison, where there was no established support system in place outside of routine postpartum care with the obstetrician. As birth workers in our community it was obvious to us that these mothers could benefit from the support of a doula.

We researched doula-supported pregnancy, birth and postpartum programs in the US in the context of incarceration and learned that:

  • The female prison population has risen 8-fold from 13,000 in 1980 to over 250,000 today. At present, there are over one-million women behind bars in the US or under the control of the criminal justice system in some form— including parole, probation, jail, state, and federal prison.

  • Females of childbearing age are the fastest-growing segment of the criminal justice system.

  • 1 in 4 of these people arrive pregnant or having given birth within the previous year.

  • Over 60% of women being incarcerated are removed from their minor children, for whom they are often the primary caregiver.

  • Women of color are disproportionately represented in the prison system, making up two-thirds of the prison population.

  • Poverty is one of the most significant and common contributing factors to sustained involvement in the criminal justice system.

  • The vast majority of women in prison are victims of violence prior to their incarceration, including domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, and child abuse. We know that the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual violence against women is a significant determinant of mental health problems, including use of illicit drugs and substance use disorder. 

  • An overwhelming majority of women are being arrested for non-violent crimes of poverty or drug-related offenses.

We connected with the researchers and doulas we encountered in the literature and joined a collaborative national network. We drafted an evidence-based initiative proposing birthing-year doula support and lactation services for birthing people in prison.

In 2019, we collaborated with prison staff to implement a specialized, doula-facilitated birth support program. We began with lactation support and weekly one-on-one prenatal & postpartum visits. In the spring we started ‘Parenting From Within’, a weekly peer-support group for people in their childbearing year, including education on perinatal topics, yoga, self-care, and stress-management. In the fall we supported the first pregnant person in our state during labor and delivery and the days that followed, including ‘separation day’ when she had to say goodbye to her baby and return to prison.

We continued these services at the prison until the pandemic paused volunteer access on site. During a brief COVID pause we were not able to offer services on-site but managed to support incarcerated doula clients at the hospital before, during and after delivery, including at the separation visit. For those who participate in our lactation program, we continued to ship their pumped breastmilk to their babies every week from the prison throughout the pandemic. Since July of 2022 our access has resumed and our programs have been fully operational on-site.

Who We Are

Executive Board

We aim to shed light on this unseen and most vulnerable segment of birthing people and babies in our state and work collectively toward a solution to the underlying problems that brought our clients to this place.

We provide valuable, skilled support for pregnant and postpartum people in the Virginia state prison and county jail system. We are an independent 501c(3) nonprofit experienced in working with correctional staff setting up birth support programs inside a maximum security facility. Our vision is to continue to expand the reach of our support services to people in jail, on probation & parole and to engage with community and policy makers in innovative ways to help lift justice-involved families up across the Commonwealth.

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Sara zia

Founder & Program Director, Lead Doula VAPBP. Sara Zia is a certified professional midwife, certified prison doula. Sara has more than a decade of experience teaching a variety of yoga practices, including at the female correctional center where VAPBP serves and was conceived.

Sylvia boudali

Secretary VAPBP. Sylvia Boudali has been a full spectrum doula since 2013. Since beginning her career in reproductive health, she has always been focused on supporting marginalized and underserved communities. She served as a doula in Richmond and co-founded the Richmond Doula Project in 2017. She is now Certified Nurse Midwife providing empowering and non-judgmental reproductive healthcare to those who need it. She lives in Richmond with her partner and two young sons.

debbie wong

Treasurer VAPBP. Debbie Wong, CPM is a midwife serving the Charlottesville and Lynchburg area. Debbie has been serving these communities since 2010. A true highlight to midwifery work has been the honor to meet a diverse group of fascinating people and having the chance to get to know them. When not at work, Debbie is an avid maker. She loves a good craft project and preparing food.

Leann Ragland

Leann Ragland is a certified prison doula and has been working as a birth doula in Richmond, VA since 2020. She is also a social worker, focusing on perinatal mental health and works with survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are pregnant and postpartum. Leann was incarcerated in 2012 and brings her lived experience and passion into her work with VAPBP. 

Community Partners