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Pregnant Women

A collage shows images of a pregnant person in a hospital gown holding their belly, a doctor holding a scalpel, a doctor administering an epidural injection on the back of a patient, a hospital gown, a hair net, a doctor writing on a clipboard and a pregnant woman taking pills out of a bottle.
Investigate This February 12
Journalists: New Data to Investigate the Consequences of Hospital Drug Testing at Childbirth
We collected child welfare data in 21 states to report on the consequences of faulty drug tests for pregnant women, including referrals to law enforcement.
By and
A photo shows a Black woman, with red hair and a white sweater, wiping the face of her young daughter while she sits on top of a kitchen table. Her eldest daughter, wearing pink hair ribbons and a blue Care Bears shirt, stands next to her while she looks at a phone placed on the table.
Feature February 10
Tens of Thousands of Mothers Were Flagged to Police Over Flawed Drug Tests at Childbirth
The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy — and that’s a significant undercount.
By and
Feature February 10
How We Counted Referrals to Police About Substance Use During Pregnancy
New analysis finds the parents of 70,000 newborns were reported to law enforcement over substance use allegations, often based on flawed drug tests.
By and
[Use this form](https://airtable.com/appR7SW9BhPZGdXp9/pagui3EF1KWn7G7hK/form) to tell us if you’ve had a brush with law enforcement during your pregnancy, labor or delivery.
Get Involved February 10
Investigated for a Positive Drug Test While Giving Birth? Tell Us What Happened Next.
Help our team continue their reporting on referrals to law enforcement for alleged drug use during pregnancy by sharing your story.
By The Marshall Project
A Black man with a goatee wears a white collared shirt with blue stripes and a yellow jacket with a green logo.
Cleveland October 27, 2025
Uncounted: Ohio Lawmakers Propose Bill to Track Pregnancy Outcomes in Jails and Prisons
A Marshall Project - Cleveland and News 5 investigation helped spark a bipartisan bill to track pregnancy outcomes in Ohio jails and prisons.
By
A woman sits in silhouette in front of a large glass window. She's inside an office, sitting on a chair and hunched over with her hands folded on her lap.
Closing Argument August 14, 2025
Drug Overdoses Are Skyrocketing Among Mothers. Why Is Rehab Unavailable?
In her new book, ‘Rehab: An American Scandal,’ Shoshana Walter explores how the giant substance treatment industry keeps failing many people desperate for help.
By
A White woman, wearing glasses and a red dress, holds the hands of her young daughter, who is wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and patterned dress. They stand in front of their house.
News July 27, 2025
How Faulty Drug Tests Turn New Parents’ Lives Upside-Down
Watch our joint investigation with CBS Sunday Morning into how hospitals use unreliable test results to report parents to child welfare agencies.
By The Marshall Project
Three items are arranged on a white surface: a salad in a white bowl, a copy of a sonogram, and a printout of a false positive drug test result.
Feature June 9, 2025
From New York to Arizona, More States Consider Curbing Drug Testing at Childbirth
Some bills followed an investigation by The Marshall Project and Reveal that exposed the harms of widespread drug testing of pregnant patients.
By
A woman with long, wavy red hair, wearing a baseball cap and whose face is not visible, sits at a table looking out a window with blue curtains.
Cleveland May 16, 2025
Ohio Lawmaker Wants to Require Jails to Report Pregnancy Outcomes
The Cleveland Democrat says “all babies should count,” — regardless of whether their mother is behind bars — to ensure access to healthcare for pregnant women.
By , The Marshall Project, and Scott Noll, News 5 Cleveland
A woman with long, wavy red hair, whose face is not visible, looks out a window with blue curtains. Behind her is a tall vase with green leaves in it. A stack of diapers is on a chair.
Cleveland May 15, 2025
Uncounted: Ohio’s Failure to Track Lost Pregnancies in Jails Spurs Questions Over Care
One woman’s pregnancy ended in the Cuyahoga County Jail amid ignored cries for help and an “egregious performance failure” by medical staff.
By , The Marshall Project, and Scott Noll, News 5 Cleveland
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