Waiting For Things In A Time When You Rarely Wait For Things was made between October 2019 and June 2020. It is a predominantly self-portraiture project that documents my pregnancy.
 
Within my personal work I usually use myself to explore themes such as body image, self-esteem, self-confidence and anxiety, so it felt natural to make a series about a new phase of my life. Having never been pregnant before it has been interesting to see the changes to my body. Each photograph is accompanied by up to 30 hashtags that make up a diary entry that talk honestly about the experience.
 
I thought the title, Waiting For Things In A Time When You Rarely Wait For Things, was quite smart as we live in a world where everything is instantaneous and it is odd when you have to wait for things. However, Covid-19 changed this and I was grateful to have something to count down to in a time of uncertainty. My husband, Tiago, worked from home, so he was in the project more than I initially expected him to be.

In the end the project became not only a diary for me, but also for family and friends who never saw me heavily pregnant in real life. After lockdown started I never went into any building besides the one that me and my husband live in, and I did not go in the car until I went to hospital for the birth in June 2020.
(Below are a selection of images from the project - there are 84 diary entries and 96 images in total)

You can see all the photos and hashtags on my Instagram account.
The Day After I Found Out (4+ weeks)

#SoIAmGoingThroughMyPicturesACoupleOfMonthsAfterTryingToEditTheProjectSoFar
#AndApparentlyIHaveBeenWritingHashtagsForEveryShootOnTheDayApartFromThisOne
#WritingThemOnTheDayIsMuchBetterButOhWell
#ILikeThatIAmWearingThisDress
#NotSureIfItWasAnAccidentOrOnPurpose
#ButItIsTheSameDressAsTheOneIAmWearingInMyPictureCalled
#ItSeemsLikeEveryoneIsPregnantExceptMe
#InMySeriesCalledUlteriorMonologue
#WhichIsAboutWantingToTalkAboutWantingToBePregnantButFeelingTooAwkwardTo
#TheDayBeforeWeHadGoneFoodShopping
#IHadBoughtCheeseThatYouAreNotSupposedToEatIfYouArePregnant
#AndTwoPregnancyTests
#IBoughtTheTestsAsIMyPeriodWasLateAndIWasHopeful
#ButBoughtTheCheeseAsIWasNotThatHopeful
#WellActuallyIWasConfusedAsItHadStartedAndStopped
#IOnlyHadATinyBitOfTheCheeseAsIWasLikeWellWhatIf
#AndThenTriedToDoATest
#ButForgotIWasGoingToDoOne
#SoIWasJustInTheBathroomForAgesDrinkingLotsOfWaterAndWaiting
#FunTimes
#ThenICameOutOfTheBathroomInShockIThink
#AndCalledTiagoIntoTheBathroomAsWeWereAtMyNans
#HeSaidHeDidNotEvenKnowWhatWasTheResultByLookingAtTheTest
#WritingThisNowIHaveABitOfABump
#OnTheDayITookAPictureOfMyBellyAndToBeFairIThoughtILookedABitPregnant
#ButMyBellyUsuallyLookedLikeThat
#AndNowIKnowMyFoodBabiesLookABitDifferentToABabyBump
#ButFoodBabiesWithABabyBumpJustLookLikeABigBabyBump
#AnywaysHereIWasAbout4AndABitWeeksPregnantOrSoTheFolderTellsMe
#IFindItOddTheWayTheyCalculateItAsPartOfThatIWasNotPregnant


I Have Told Him Before That If He Wants To Touch The Bump Then He Has To Make Sure His Hands Are Warm (22 and a half weeks)
I Have Told Him Before That If He Wants To Touch The Bump Then He Has To Make Sure His Hands Are Warm (22 and a half weeks)
The Bump & The Beard (33 weeks)  
The Bump & The Beard (33 weeks)  
Bump Is Definitely Droopier (37 weeks)
Bump Is Definitely Droopier (37 weeks)
3 images showing me at 22 and a half weeks, 33 weeks and 37 weeks pregnant (I gave birth at 37+5). 

The first was taken before lockdown, whilst the other two were taken during lockdown - when Tiago was working from home and didn't need to shave. 
I Worry That People Will Think I Am Drunk Or Hungover If I Am Sick In The Street (8 Weeks)
I Worry That People Will Think I Am Drunk Or Hungover If I Am Sick In The Street (8 Weeks)
I Keep Looking At The Scan As I Can Not Believe It (9 and a half weeks)
I Keep Looking At The Scan As I Can Not Believe It (9 and a half weeks)
My Due Date Got Put Back To Its Original One (Nearly 13 weeks)
My Due Date Got Put Back To Its Original One (Nearly 13 weeks)
Maternity Pillow (16 weeks)
Maternity Pillow (16 weeks)

My Portuguese-British Family and Me (19 weeks)

#SoBrexitFinallyHappened
#IFeelComfortedKnowingThatTiagoHasBritishCitizenship
#ThoughIAmJealousOfHimStillBeingAnEUCitizen
#HopefullyOurChildWillBeAbleToHaveBoth
#SoIDoNotNeedToWorryAboutThem
#IJustHopeThatOneDayICanBeAnEUCitizenAgainOneDay
#IWillProbablyNeverGetOverBrexit
#IWasSatFumingAllDayOnTheDayItFinallyHappened
#PeopleOnTheNewsDoNotSeemAbleToGiveAGoodEnoughReasonStill
#AndItHasBeen3AndAHalfYears
#WeWereInPortugalWhenTheResultsCameOut
#AndItWasTheGreyestDayOfOurTrip
#WeSpentAgesGettingToABeach
#AndTheWeatherWasJustTerrible
#WhichReflectedOurMood
#TheOnlyGoodThingAboutBrexitIsThatItStoppedUsGettingTrappedInZone5OfLondon
#WeThoughtAboutDidWeReallyWantToSpendOurLivesThere
#WeDecidedNo
#SoWeStayedInZone2AndThenTiagosJobRoleChangedAfterAWhile
#IDidNotSeeMyselfLeavingLondonForAnywhereElseInTheUK
#ButThenOneDayWhenIKnewMyWatfordProjectWasNearlyDoneISaidIfYouWantToMoveUpNorthForYourJobThenIAmReadyNowAndWeLeftWithin5Weeks
#AndNowWeLiveInLiverpool
#SoIAmGladThatWeDidNotCommitToZone5InTheEnd
#YesWeAreWearingTheSameTop
#MyMumBoughtMeOneAndIBoughtAnother
#ButTiagoWearsOneAsTheyAreNiceAndWarm
#AndItIsColdUpHereInLiverpool
#ItIsAwkwardWhenWeGoOutWithJumpersOnAndRealiseWeHaveTheSameTopOnUnderneath
#SoOneOfUsHasToBoilInAJumperSoWeDoNotLookSilly
#BlessTiagoBecauseItIsUsuallyHimBoilingInTheJumperAsWeDoNotWantToOverheatTheBaby
​​​​​​​
Have I Mentioned That Pregnancy Is So Weird? (21 weeks)
Have I Mentioned That Pregnancy Is So Weird? (21 weeks)
Pregnancy In The Time Of Corona (25 weeks)
Pregnancy In The Time Of Corona (25 weeks)
Broken Blood Vessels (26 weeks)
Broken Blood Vessels (26 weeks)
Subject: Leaky Boobs (29 weeks)
Subject: Leaky Boobs (29 weeks)
Tiago Says It Reminds Him Of Pictures Where People Are Holding A Globe (29 weeks)
Tiago Says It Reminds Him Of Pictures Where People Are Holding A Globe (29 weeks)

It Is Odd That Quite Possibly None Of My Friends Or Family (Besides Tiago) Will See Me Heavily Pregnant In Real Life (29 weeks)

​​​​​​​#PeopleWarnedUsWhenWeWereTryingToGetPregnantThatWeWouldNeverBeAbleToLeaveTheHouseWhenWeWantedAgain
#IRememberShruggingAtTheTimeAndSayingItDidNotBotherMeMuch
#IHaveAlwaysLikedBookingTicketsForThingsMoreThanGoingToTheThings
#IBookTicketsAndIGetExcited
#ThenOnTheDayTheEventComesRoundIAmAlwaysFeelingTired
#IDoEnjoyEventsButIAmNotThatBothered
#NowIHaveBeenAtHomeFor3WeeksOtherThanGoingForWalks
#AndWhenRestrictionsFinallyLiftIWillNotBeRushingToGoOutForAnythingOtherThanWalks
#TheBabyMayHaveBeenBornAlreadyOrItMayHaveNot
#EitherWayIDoNotEnvisionGoingAnywhereWithTheBabyBesidesWalks
#ItIsOddThatQuitePossiblyNoneOfMyFriendsOrFamilyWillSeeMeHeavilyPregnantInRealLife
#EveryWeekIFeelLikeTheBabyIsGrowingALot
#IDidNotBotherBuyingAnyMoreMaternityClothesThanTheOnesIGotWhenIWas15Weeks
#WhichWereMainlyBrasADressAPairOfLeggingsAndACardigan
#NowIAmJustAtHomeSoIDefinitelyDoNotNeedToGetAnythingElse
#YesterdayISpentTheWholeDayLookingAtBabyStuff
#WeAreJustGoingToHaveToRiskItAndBuyStuffWithoutTrying
#IWouldRatherJustBuyEverythingSoonerRatherThanLaterSoWeDoNotHaveToWorry
#IAmThinkingThatThereIsNoPointBuyingABabyBassinetForThePushchairAsWeWillNotProbablyUseItMuch
#IWouldRatherJustCarryTheBabyInTheBeginning
#ParticularlyToAvoidAnyoneTryingToPeerIntoTheBassinetInsteadOfKeepingTheirDistance
#WeStillDoNotKnowIfItIsAGirlOrABoy
#IOftenForgetItHasAGenderWhichIsWeirdToSay
#IJustReferToThemAsTheBabyOrThem
#WhereasTiagoUsuallyStartsTalkingToTheBumpWithMyBabyBoy
#AndThenICoughInANonCovidWayAndHeSaysOrMyBabyGirl
#HeStillWantsToFindOutBeforeTheBirth
#IWantToWait
#IAmSupposedToBeHavingMoreScansButIHaveNotReceivedALetterRecently
#AndIDoNotFeelLikeChasingThemUpAsIWouldRatherAvoidGoingToTheHospitalIfICan
Eating Almond Butter Is My Daily Highlight Right Now (29 and a half weeks)
Eating Almond Butter Is My Daily Highlight Right Now (29 and a half weeks)
When A Shoot Is So Bad That You Accidentally Refer To It As A Photosh*t (30 and a half weeks) II
When A Shoot Is So Bad That You Accidentally Refer To It As A Photosh*t (30 and a half weeks) II
Accepting That My Old Normal Is Gone Forever (32 and a half weeks)
Accepting That My Old Normal Is Gone Forever (32 and a half weeks)
Things Seem A Bit More Real After My Midwife Appointment Today (33 weeks)
Things Seem A Bit More Real After My Midwife Appointment Today (33 weeks)
I Know It Does Not Look Like It But Swear That I Am Wearing Pants (34 weeks)
I Know It Does Not Look Like It But Swear That I Am Wearing Pants (34 weeks)
Yes, That Is Dried Colostrum (35 weeks)
Yes, That Is Dried Colostrum (35 weeks)
It’s Less Than A Month Until My Due Date (36 weeks)
It’s Less Than A Month Until My Due Date (36 weeks)
The Baby Just Seems So Protected And Safe In My Belly (36 and a half weeks
The Baby Just Seems So Protected And Safe In My Belly (36 and a half weeks

I Ended Up Waiting For Something To Happen In A Time When Everyone Was Waiting For Something (0 Weeks) ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​#SoOurBabyArrivedTwoWeeksEarly
#MyWatersBrokeWhenIWasInBedAtOneThirtyInTheMorningAndAtFirstIThoughtIHadWetMyself
#WeWentToTheHospitalForMonitoring
#TurnedOutThatBabyWasBreech
#TheyWantedMeToHaveACSection
#ButISaidNoAsIDidNotFancyTheRecoveryTime
#TheyBasicallyPutMeOnAClockAndSaidIfIWasNotInEstablishedLabourBy6PMThenIWasHavingACSection
#IThoughtChallengeExcepted
#IKnewIfIGotStressedOutThenMySurgesWouldNotComeOrWouldBeStopped
#IDancedBehindTheCurtainInTheWardAndIBreathedThroughEachOne
#AtSomePointIWasExaminedAndAllowedToGoToTheDeliverySuiteAndTiagoCouldComeInTheRoom
#TheyPutACannulaInMyHandAndPutTheDateAndTimeOnIt
#ExactlyTwoHoursLaterOurBabyWasBorn
#WeDidNotKnowIfItWasABoyOrAGirl
#TheyShowedMeAndAtFirstAllICouldSeeWasThePlacentaCordAndIThoughtItWasABoy
#ButItWasAGirlWhoIWillReferToAsB
#IHadUsedATensMachineForTheFirstHalfOfLabourAndByTheSecondHalfItJustAnnoyedMe
#AfterwardsIFeltHighFromHavingJustFocusedOnMyBreathing
#AFewPeopleHaveSaidToMeThatTheyDidNotKnowVaginalBreechDeliveryWasPossible
#AnywaysIThoughtIShouldConcludeThisProjectWithSomethingThatReferencesOurBabyB
#IPlannedToGetAPictureOfTheCordStumpAttachedToHer
#ButWeJustDidNotGetRoundToItAndThenYesterdayMorningWeRealisedItHadGoneAndWereTryingToFindItInHerClothes
#IGuessItFallingOffSignifiesTheCompleteEndOfHerPhysicalAttachmentToMe
#IWasAboutToSayTheEndOfMyBodyFeedingHerBodyWithNutrients
#ButIAmBreastfeedingAndItDependsHowYouDefinePhysicalAttachment
#AnywaysIThoughtThisWasANiceWayToEndTheProjectAndSayThatSheIsHereWhilstNotShowingHer
#ObviouslyIWasAnxiousALotDuringThePregnancyButItWasTheCompleteUnknownForMe
#INeverWouldHaveThoughtThatIWouldBePregnantDuringAPandemicLetAloneThatOneWouldHitUs
#NowSheHasBeenBornIHaveKindOfForgottenAboutItAndIAmTryingMyBestToSleepWhilstFeelingOnTopOfTheWorld
#InTheEndIEndingUpWaitingForSomethingToHappenInATimeWhenEveryoneWasWaitingForSomethingToHappen
You can see all the photos/read the hashtags from the series on my Instagram account.

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