This project explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
The series features portraits of new and expectant parents from London, accompanied by their testimonies of love, loss and survival in the face of adversity.
The project began after photographer James Clifford Kent became a parent for the first time in September 2020, when he shared an image of his wife together with their newborn baby daughter and midwife. He soon received messages from all over the world from people wanting to tell their stories. He realised this represented a unique opportunity to capture how pandemic restrictions were impacting this life changing experience for millions.
His project reveals the challenges of bringing a baby into the world during the pandemic.
Work from the project has been published widely in the media and was awarded one of The Lancet’s annual photography prizes. Kent is currently turning the series into a book and will showcase work from the project in collaboration with the Babylab at the University of Cambridge in 2022.
Media
Pregnancy and birth during the pandemic (Royal Photographic Society Journal Extra, January 2022)
Love, loss and survival: Becoming a parent during the pandemic (The Independent, December 2021)
Highlights 2021: Line of Sight (The Lancet, December 2021)
‘I take each day as it comes’: Pregnancy and birth in the pandemic (The Independent, August 2021)
Generation COVID: Pregnancy, birth and early postnatal life in the pandemic (The Conversation, July 2021)
Pregnant Pause (Amateur Photographer, June 2021)
Support for the project
“During the COVID19 pandemic I have been personally and professionally aware of the negative impact it is having on women, partners and families – and midwives and other birth workers. Restricted access to hospitals for appointments and care has caused distress, fear, and in some cases deep trauma. As an experienced midwife I am relieved and delighted to see this project unfold using photography to portray a story that needs telling, to help all those who feel their voice is unheard or absent. Imagery, especially photography, evokes emotion like no other medium and childbirth is an emotionally charged time. The project will document this period in time and potentially help to heal those affected – in addition to raising awareness to promote positive change.”
– Dr Sheena Byrom OBE, consultant midwife