The COVID-era. Not one for the faint of heart, but still one in which women give birth every day. Webb Chappell, a Boston based photographer, gets the chance to meet a few of these superheroes and help tell their story for The Boston Globe Magazine.
I shoot a lot for the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, and this was a simple assignment: go to “parental support groups” (pre-pandemic) and go to Caroline’s house, who’s featured in the story for giving birth in quarantine.
The woman shown behind the glass is Caroline Brinkert and her baby girl, only a few weeks old. Caroline’s experience was quite different from what she’d expected: “I’ve heard so often how it will take a village to get through this period. People to help with meals, or to fold a pile of laundry, or just to hold the baby, so I can take a shower. Now, none of these things are possible.”
While Caroline had to reconcile her expectations with the stark reality that the virus only highlighted, her baby girl got to meet her grandparents through a windowpane. The same windowpane featured above.
I shot her through the door not only for aesthetic but also everyone’s safety. This was very early on in the pandemic.
The Boston Globe article, “The ‘fourth trimester’ and plight of new mothers during a pandemic,” focuses on how new mothers are treated after giving birth. The author explains the extreme physical and mental changes a new mom goes through with minimum or no support, as well as the shocking statistics surrounding post-partum depression and financial care for new moms.
The lack of support for new mothers is only exacerbated when they need to remain in quarantine for their babies’ health. Dr. Eva Zasloff is helping to change post-partum care by providing in-home and virtual check-ins for mother and child.
During these check-ins, she can discuss any physical problems that have arisen, and equally as necessary, the mother’s mental health. On average, her appointments last about 2 hours instead of the 25 minutes of care women receive at their traditional six-week post-partum checkup. Before the pandemic, Webb was able to sit in on one of these check-ins.
Having doctors like Eva Zasloff go directly into people’s homes to check out mothers and their babies is a smart, fabulous idea.
Webb, skilled in getting organic, candid shots, stayed in the background throughout the appointment and let the doctor get to work.
I was a fly on the wall. I enjoyed the time with Eva and Sophia (the mother), but stayed out of the way and conversation for the most part.
Continuing his documentarian style, Webb attended a weekly meeting at the Greater Lawrence Family Healthcare Center. This nonprofit institute does similar work to Zasloff’s but uses a group-based approach to give low-income families medical and emotional support.
They get free medical checkups for their babies, and the chance to ask relevant parenting questions and to share with other parents going through the same challenging time.
Webb stays at a distance, allowing these new parents to feel comfortable, to go about business as usual. The subjects aren’t models, simply parents in need, given an opportunity for better healthcare and a better life. He captures well what a supportive and healthy environment can do for new parents and children.
I parented two kids and had no support. I definitely would have benefited from an opportunity like this.
Credits:
Art Director: Greg Klee
See more of Webb’s work at webbchappell.com.
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