The Richmond Reprodutive Freedom Project supports regulations that limit the                                  use of restraints on pregnant inmates.
Restraining pregnant inmates poses an unacceptable risk to women's health
and to the health and safety of the fetus. Freedom from physical restraints
is especially critical during labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
Women frequently need to move around during labor and recovery, particularly
during the birthing process.

The absence of physical restraints is essential so that medical staff can
easily conduct any necessary emergency procedures.  Following birth, it is
critical for a woman to remain unshackled to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Freedom from shackles after delivery also fosters postpartum bonding between
a mother and her newborn, which is essential to the healthy development of
the child.

Shackling pregnant women prisoners is a common degrading practice in the
United States, and faith based and civil rights groups in Virginia have
gathered stories from women in the Commonwealth who have been restrained
while pregnant and incarcerated. National correctional and medical
associations oppose the shackling of pregnant women because it is
unnecessary and dangerous.

Restricting the use of restraints on pregnant women prisoners will not
jeopardize the safety of correctional or medical staff. Among the states
that have restricted shackling of pregnant inmates none have documented
instances of women in labor or delivery escaping or causing harm to
themselves, the public, security guards, or medical staff.

Providing a procedure for compliance with this regulation will ensure much
needed accountability.