ABSTRACT
Chapter 3, “Circumventing primary maternal preoccupation”, portrays women who have circumvented the special psychological state that characterizes pregnancy. In other terms, they have had difficulties in attaching to the foetus and preparing emotionally for motherhood. The impact of the mother’s relationship with her own mother is emphasized through several vignettes from the author’s research and his therapy caseload. The special challenges of therapeutic work during pregnancy are summarized and discussed in a lengthy section.
