Thread by @NAPW

👋 to our new followers. We defend the rights of pregnant people who are facing criminalization due to their pregnancies or pregnancy outcomes. (1/9)

We recently shared a statement about Brittney Poolaw, a 20-year-old woman convicted of first degree manslaughter & sentenced to 4 years in prison for a miscarriage. A few points of emphasis about people being criminalized for pregnancy loss (thread):
nationaladvocatesforpregnantwomen.org/oklahoma-prose… (2/9)

While Brittney’s case is HORRIFIC, it is, sadly, not unusual. We have documented over 1,600 cases involving the criminalization of pregnancy. Over 1,200 of those cases have happened in the past 15 years. (3/9)

These cases include pregnant women who have been arrested for falling down stairs, drinking alcohol, giving birth at home, being in a “dangerous” location, having HIV, experiencing a drug dependency problem, or attempting suicide. (4/9)

This includes Adora Perez, a women charged with murder after experiencing a stillbirth in California. Ms. Perez is still incarcerated and we are fighting for her release. thecut.com/2021/09/featur… (5/9)

The majority of women subjected to pregnancy-based prosecutions are low-income women, drug-using women, and women of color. (6/9)

It's a misconception that any amount of substance use, including methamphetamine, is uniquely & fatally dangerous to a pregnant woman & her baby. That's simply not true. See this letter from medical experts used in our defense of Chelsea Becker: mk0nationaladvoq87fj.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/upl… (7/9)

The prosecutor’s argument in Ms. Poolaw's case directly conflicts with every major medical organization that says such prosecutions actually increase risks of harm to maternal & child health: mk0nationaladvoq87fj.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/upl… (8/9)

NAPW is mobilizing to stop these inhumane and abusive prosecutions of women for experiencing pregnancy loss. For more information, visit our website. And please consider donating to support our work defending the rights of Ms. Poolaw and others: …esforpregnantwomen.networkforgood.com/projects/41168… (9/9)