The Waiting Project
A personal photo project exploring how we wait in the final weeks of pregnancy. We often romanticize pregnancy in images and maternity sessions are done earlier, when we're earlier in pregnancy and typically more comfortable. With this project we're instead focusing on those final weeks, the home stretch, when the waiting is forefront. Society doesn't talk about it as much, beyond acknowledging how uncomfortable it is. So I’ve invited my clients to reflect and share!
I began my project in 2023, but in 2024 started to include the thoughts and words of my beautiful photo subjects as well.
How do we wait at 38+ weeks?
What does it look and feel like?
Jenna
Waiting
I’ve never had to get so quiet
Too many anxious inquiries about his arrival.
So I sat in silence. Messages left on read.
—
Come rub my feet will you? Because they say we are weathering.
I wonder if they know that it’s extacy, joy, love, and patience that aids a baby earthside.
And not a nervous system demanding deadlines for those unborn.
—
Words by @jennahanchard
Lauren
Waiting
There is this arbitrary number of forty weeks that everyone says you are due by, that you should be born at. But knowing that your conception date is merely an educated guess, we wait for you patiently, Baby. We wait until you are ready to embrace the outside world. We wait until my body, my womb, has every detail of your body grown to the right stage that it can release you into my arms. We are not rushed. We are not concerned. We cherish these final days of your Big Brother being an only child. We cherish these “overdue” days as gifts of days of peace and family bonding and transition. I cherish these days of holding you in my womb, where I’ve inherently kept you safe and secure; I will miss you being in my womb, although you being in my arms will be joyous and fulfilling. My body was intricately designed to create you, to grow you, to nourish you, and to birth you - I trust my body to deliver you when you’re ready, no sooner. We will be here, arms ready to embrace you, when it is your time. Until then, we wait patiently, rubbing you through my womb, showing you all of the love we have for you. We love you, Baby.
—
Words by @gracegrainandgrammar
Becca
Waiting
This period of waiting has felt very different from the last. Physically and mentally, this pregnancy has been a much greater challenge for me. As I’ve gotten bigger, I wonder how I will keep going - it sometimes doesn’t feel possible. As we get closer to their arrival, I wonder how we will do it all – raise a toddler and tend to two newborns.
I’ve been forced to slow down physically, pass off responsibility, and rely on others. All things that I do not excel at. I feel as though there are a ton of things to do and a dwindling amount of time to do them. I am both excited for the arrival of my babies and anxious about all the upcoming change.
I’ve been reminding myself that we were chosen for this journey, we are prepared, and we have everything we need.
—
Words by @b_evsss - Waiting for her twins to arrive - August 2024
