Watch Pregnant Behind Bars

Pregnancy is considered one of the most special moments in a woman's life. It's a time when a woman's raw strength and resilience are tested, making them the toughest and most courageous beings on earth. However, what happens when pregnancy occurs in a challenging environment such as a correctional institute? Discovery Fit & Health's documentary show, Pregnant Behind Bars, unveils the truth that most people don't know about pregnancy in prisons.

Pregnant Behind Bars is a gripping six-episode documentary series that tells real-life stories of pregnant women serving various sentences in prisons across the United States. The show premiered on Discovery Fit & Health in 2013 and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its unique concept and engaging character portrayal. Throughout the series, viewers follow the pregnant inmates' journeys as they navigate life in prison while carrying precious little lives inside them.

One of the show's standout stars is Jessica Anne Bogart, a former inmate of the Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana, who became a mentor to inmates once she gave birth. Jessica, who had previously spent stints in and out of prison, found herself pregnant while serving a ten-year drug-related sentence. She, together with other pregnant women, share their struggles, joys, and hardships of living behind bars while bearing a child. Jessica's story, in particular, is compelling as she strives to make her incarceration productive and ultimately reunite with her newborn baby.

The series starts by providing the audience with an overview of the lives of women living behind bars. We see women of different races and ages go about their daily activities, from preparing meals, exercising, and taking classes. It's evident from the start that being pregnant in a correctional institution is not easy, and the women face a myriad of challenges. From the moment they discover they are pregnant, the women must navigate the prison's bureaucracy and medical system to get the required prenatal care. They must also deal with the fact that they will likely give birth in prison with minimum support from family or friends.

One of the stand-out episodes in the series is "Birthing Your Baby," where viewers get to see the immense sacrifice pregnant women in prison make to ensure that they bring forth healthy babies. The episode depicts the process of childbirth in an Indiana prison, from a women's final days of pregnancy to the moment she delivers. We see women brace for childbirth with literally no pain relief medication and minimal comfort. It's a sobering reminder of how much these women sacrifice daily.

Another interesting episode is "After Baby Arrives," where the series delves into the practical realities that these newborns and mothers face post-birth. Pregnant Behind Bars shows that all women need help navigating the first few months of their newborn baby's lives. For these women, however, they must do it all single-handedly, with no family, friends, or spouse to help raise their child. Jessica Anne Bogart takes on the mentor role for several new mothers, offering a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and essential parenting advice.

The show does an excellent job of not only telling the women's stories but also highlighting the complex social factors that lead to women getting pregnant while in prison. Viewers are given a glimpse of the reasons why these women ended up in prison and how they ended up pregnant. For instance, one woman ended up in prison after trafficking drugs for an abusive boyfriend. Another woman found herself involved with drugs to deal with depression and anxiety caused by a toxic relationship. The show's focus on each woman's individual stories makes it hard not to empathize with them.

Pregnant Behind Bars is a raw, emotional, and raw look into a rarely-seen part of society. The show highlights the struggles of pregnant women trying to make the best of their situation while facing various obstacles, including difficult medical procedures, judgment, and societal shame. It also shows that a community can indeed be born behind bars, where women support one another and find ways to thrive. For anyone interested in women's health or the challenges that pregnant women face daily, then Pregnant Behind Bars is a must-watch.

Pregnant Behind Bars is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between August 22, 2013 and on Discovery Fit & Health