From Pregnancy to Motherhood: Psychoanalytic Aspects of the Beginnings of the Mother-Child Relationship

From Pregnancy to Motherhood explores the mental states associated with pregnancy, birth and the early days of motherhood from a psychoanalytic perspective. Drawing on clinical research findings and the infant observation method originally developed by Esther Bick, the contributors examine a range of topics which include: how women's view of motherhood is influenced by social, cultural and biotechnological factors; how women's sense of identity changes throughout pregnancy and motherhood; how women's relationships with her family, partner and future child are shaped; and how mental health professionals can better understand ways to work with issues of maternal and infant mental health.

Gina Ferrara Mori presents the research of psychoanalysts and psychotherapists working in different settings with mothers-to-be exploring their emotions, wishes, dreams, phantasies, fears during the "time" in which they wait for the birth of their baby and experience the various phases of their bodies’ development. Their work discusses the specific and complex developmental process in female identity which the authors have termed the construction of the 'internal motherhood/inner maternity' which becomes a 'psychic container' establishing the pre-conditions for developing bonds, affection and their relationship with the baby once it has been born.

From Pregnancy to Motherhood develops and elaborates theoretical thinking and research already available as well as presenting new material, itwill be stimulating reading for psychoanalysts, psychologists, psychotherapists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, ultrasound doctors and technicians, midwives, social workers, healthcare assistants, registered and practical nurses, teachers and students.

Contents:

Foreword, Jeanne Magagna

Introduction, Gina Ferrara Mori

Chapter one, The story has already started - Preliminary meetings in the infant observation, Isabella Lapi and Laura Mori

Chapter two, The announcement in pregnancy: annunciation or verdict? Luigia Cresti Scacciati and Laura Mori

Chapter three, The pre-infant observation, Luigia Cresti Scacciati and Cristina Pratesi

Chapter four, Listening to future mothers, Linda Root Fortini

Chapter five, Ultrasound scan and internal processes, Luigia Cresti Scacciati

Chapter six, The development of the psychic womb: the weft and the warp, Mariarosa Ceragioli, Arianna Luperini, Gabriella Smorto

Chapter seven, In the analysis room. Pregnancy questions the analytic tool, Arianna Luperini

Chapter eight, Towards motherhood during the analysis, or in a psychoanalytic consultation, Marco Mastella

Chapter nine, The "Times" of Maternality, Fiorella Monti

Chapter ten, Having or not having a baby: internal movements searching for new balances, Gabriella Smorto

Chapter eleven, Being received in consultation, Cristina Pratesi

Chapter twelve, Training Childbirth Professionals, Isabella Lapi

Addendum, The crisis of "internal motherhood" and its impact on "consultazione partecipata", Dina Vallino