“Painting while pregnant was different”: Artist Camilla Engström on preparing her ambitious new show whilst preparing for her first child

I’m just shy of nine months pregnant, and everything feels daunting. The baby bassinet is still in its box, along with the stroller. The car seat is tossed in the back of my car, still wrapped in bubble wrap. Most things remain unopened, untouched. I thought I would feel more prepared by now – this is my first child, after all – but instead, the art show and home renovations took over.

We bought a new home, a charming fixer-upper that’s still far from done. Cameron’s parents are on their way here as I write, coming to help us get a functioning kitchen – and to help us hang some doors. Doors would be good to have. We ordered doorknobs, but of course, the wrong kind. I’ve read that the brain shrinks to more easily bond with the baby while pregnant and I feel that.