women´s problems: pregnancy complications
This project is part of a series of works reflecting om women´s problems. In this poignant series of photographs, Yelena explores the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy complications she endured, including pre-eclampsia leading to a stillbirth and CVST following her second childbirth. Though these complications are medically documented, many expectant mothers remain uninformed about their symptoms and risks, leaving them unprepared. In her autobiographical series, Yelena visually narrates personal moments that reflect the often unspoken physical realities of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, confronting issues like hemorrhaging, pre-eclampsia symptoms, the effects of CVST, hemorrhoids, and breast engorgement. Each piece offers a glimpse into specific, traumatic events that Yelena experienced. In one work, she reconstructs the bloodstain she was asked to describe over the phone days before her stillbirth, that was dismissed as a mere “fleck of blood.” Another photograph captures a dangerously high blood pressure reading of 160/100—a prelude to her induction at 37 weeks and a stark reminder of pre-eclampsia’s rapid escalation. A green-tinted fluid in the potty represents the protein found in her urine, a traditional diagnostic marker for pre-eclampsia. Another scene recalls the lack of feeling a belt around her chest that Yelena´s midwife was asking about until a physical exam revealed her distress. Additional works reflect postpartum engorgement through breast pumps pumping stone, depicted through her choice not to breastfeed due to medication, and hemorrhoid ointment replacing fertilizer for a flower bouquet. Finally, the last picture symbolizes her eyesight impairment due to CVST. Through these carefully constructed images, Yelena sheds light on the complex, often overlooked facets of pregnancy, inviting viewers to acknowledge and discuss these raw, seldom-shared experiences.
