Incarcerated Woman in South Bay Jail First to Participate in County's Lactation Program

A 19-year-old woman jailed for identity theft gave birth to a son on Sunday at the Century Regional Detention facility in Inglewood, where she is participating in a pilot lactation program, authorities said Thursday.

The woman was identified as Keymoreah Chorm, the sheriff’s department reported.

The program is under the direction of the sheriff’s Custody Division commander.

“Upon delivery of their child, the incarcerated women are given the opportunity to lactate and continue providing their breast milk to their newborn child,” the sheriff’s department reported. “The incarcerated women who elect to breastfeed and/or maintain lactation will be provided a breast pump and instructions on its use.”

The lactation program “is the first ... ever offered to women in the Los Angeles County Jail system,” according to a department statement. “Chorm ... is now able to provide her newborn baby with her breast milk.”

The program allows family members to pick up the breast milk and deliver it to the newborn baby in need of milk. The responsible caregiver will be required to pick up the breast milk on a daily basis and will be provided instructions on handling, thawing, and warming of frozen milk.

“The American Civil Liberties Union has advocated and collaborated with the sheriff’s department to further the support incarcerated mothers and their babies,” the sheriff’s department said.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock