My creative piece is inspired by collective experiences during my placement in the children’s hospital. On this ward, I was exposed to many patients but what struck an interest and inspired my creative piece were the sick babies. Some babies needed around-the-clock care and had been on the ward for a very long time. During feed times, a member of staff told me how difficult it can be for parents to leave their babies in the hospital to then look after their other children and/or when they can’t get leave from their jobs. In these situations, a lot of the responsibility is placed on the ward staff to look after, comfort and entertain the babies as well as their other duties.
During one specific encounter, one of the babies was crying and wasn’t stopping no matter what I did. Through this experience, I learnt so much, a member of staff explained that there are so many different reasons why babies cry – like them being hungry, tired, nappy needing to be changed, etc. I also found it fascinating how some of the hospital staff and the parents would manipulate the newborn’s environment to emulate what the baby would experience in the womb – holding the baby close to the chest so they can hear and feel your heartbeat, swaddling them, and putting white sounds on. Moreover, I also observed first-hand the importance of a support system for the staff members and the families on the ward. It can be quite emotional when a parent, after giving birth is struggling to bond with their child. My creative piece, although in an abstract way, highlights these challenges to newborns and mothers.
Using mixed-media for this art piece was important for me as I learned that babies thrive in a sensory-driven environment. Therefore, I included tactual elements such as buttons, cloth, embroidery and imitation gold leaf to give more than simply a visual experience.
The lower section of the piece represents what the foetus experiences inside the womb. The top section mirrors what the newborn experiences once outside the womb. I used cloth to represent how the baby would be swaddled and held to feel safe, the textured hands symbolise the experiences of touch that the baby will encounter for example in ‘tummy time’.
Overall, this ward experience gave me a huge insight into how families can feel during an exciting time for some, and a nervous time for others. This creative project, gave me an opportunity to reflect more generally, and I also realised that feelings of anxiousness and nervousness aren’t isolated, that many patients, families and staff will also undergo these powerful emotions in healthcare – so in order to thrive – it’s vital to ensure everyone has a good support network!