Mother's Nightmare at a Texas Jail

This is an issue that rarely crosses the minds of the average Texan. 

Inmates tend to be clustered off as losers who cannot possibly be rehabilitated back to the American (somewhat civilized) neighborhoods due to their inability to follow rules. While this may be applicable to a specific portion of all inmates, this cannot excuse the inadequate care provided to women who are pregnant while incarcerated. 

For those to whom life matters very little, you may stop reading now. 

This issue surpasses any political ideology created by man. Prenatal care is crucial to the successful development of an unborn baby. The lasting effects of negligent care during the entire nine months of gestation include congenital diseases and abnormalities, premature birth, and lastly death. 

This was the terrible fate of baby Myrah. An article written by Alexa Garcia-Ditta on the Texas Observer recounts the story of Myrah's mother, Nicole Guerrero. Nicole became addicted to pain medication after life-changing injuries that intercepted her promising athletic career. As with any untreated disease, her addiction escalated to a dangerous level. The addiction led her to the Wichita County Jail in 2012. Unfortunately, at that time she was expecting her fourth child. While in jail, she received no specialized prenatal care, exams, and her nutrition was lacking in substance for the fetus growing inside her. When Nicole went into labor, the indifferent staff, including the limited medical staff, ignored her pain for over twelve hours. Unaided and alone, Nicole gave birth to Myrah who had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Myrah was pronounced dead. 

There is a physician who visits the Wichita jail, but he only makes appearances for a total of four hours a week. The scant four nurses on site mostly ignore the pleads of ailing inmates. 

The ignored community of pregnant women in jails and prisons is aided by community activists who are fighting for humane treatment of mothers and their unborn babies. While these cases have reached the ears of a handful of politicians, much work remains. I encourage you all to take a look at this article because we hold the power to elect the individuals who have the ability to change the conditions for these women and babies.