Born into a Pandemic
Pregnancy and birth can be a challenge at the best of times but even more so during a global pandemic. In 2020, I met a number of women who gave birth in the UK during this unprecedented time. I encountered a few recurring themes in their stories from isolation (both during pregnancy and afterwards), to anxiety over contracting coronavirus, to crushing disappointment that partners were not able to attend scans and appointments and to be present for key parts of labour. Amongst the stress and strain some also enjoyed the benefits of spending more time together as a family unit in the early days of parenthood. This project was published by both BBC News online and the Bristol Post, and was featured in the book Letters from Lockdown published by Hachette.
