Woman forced to give birth alone in jail cell as guards ignored her

Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a woman was forced to give birth in a prison cell by herself.

Lying on her back "on a cold hard bench, feet away from a toilet", Diana Sanchez is captured screaming in pain as she pushes the baby out.

The 26-year-old had been locked up in Denver County jail two weeks before on July 31, 2018 on identity-theft related charges.

Six hours before she gave birth to her son Jordan, Sanchez told guards that was going into labour, she claimed.

Over the course of the morning she told prison deputies and nurses "at least eight times" that she was experiencing contractions, a legal complaint alleges.

Despite the prison officials being aware of the incoming child she was left screaming in agony for hours without any anesthesia.

Moments after she gave birth a male nurse, who was allegedly standing outside the cell watching in, walks in and picks up the newborn son.

Mari Newman, Sanchez's lawyer, told KDVR: “(He) picks up the baby as though he's never seen one in his life.

“I mean, the lack of any sort of compassion is astounding.”

Sanchez claimed that is was only after she gave birth that an ambulance was called for her.

On Wednesday lawyers filed a lawsuit claiming prison staff were aware Sanchez was giving birth and decided not to take her to hospital because it was "inconvenient".

Speaking days after the birth Sanchez said: "That pain, it's just, it's indescribable. What hurts me more is the fact that nobody cared.”

A Denver Sheriff's Department spokesperson told the BBC that Denver Health Medical provides "comprehensive medical care at both of our jails" and that professionals are "housed in the jail facilities and have dedicated medical units" to provide care.

"We empathise with anyone who is in jail while pregnant, including Ms Sanchez," the statement said.

"Ms Sanchez was in the medical unit and under the care of Denver health medical professionals at the time she gave birth."

They said the department had changed its policies to ensure pregnant inmates are immediately transported to hospital.

In an earlier statement it was claimed that Sheriff Patrick Firman ordered a thorough investigation as soon as he became aware of the incident.

It was determined that deputy sheriffs took "appropriate action" and followed policies and proceedures.

In the lawsuit it is alleged none of the nurses present dried the baby, cleared mucous from his nose, administered anti-biotics or weighed and measured him.