Introduction

For all parents-to-be, three babies come together at the moment of birth. The imaginary child of their dreams and fantasies and the invisible but real fetus, whose particular rhythms and personality have been making themselves increasingly evident for several months now, merge with the actual newborn baby who can be seen, heard, and finally held close. The attachment to a newborn (whose contribution to the relationship will be explored in detail in Part II) is built on prior relationships with an imaginary child, and with the developing fetus which has been part of the parents' world for nine months.