The baby and his majesties: some considerations on human helplessness

This paper, which is based on observations of women in labour in the obstetric centre of a public hospital, describes the challenges for mothers, as well as for the observer, who enters the 'sacred place', a place where verbalisation has no meaning. We hope to show that perhaps the greatest challenge for the observer is to reconnect with the helplessness which accompanies human beings from the beginning to the end of life. In childbirth, we suggest, the experience of both physical and emotional regression psychically challenges most women to the limit. The paper draws on previous experience of applying Bick's infant observation method and on Winnicott's theory of primitive emotional development. The paper assumes that the mother's primitive psychic and physical experiences during labour and delivery reflect a state of regression which develops during pregnancy and continues for some time after delivery. This is assumed to enable the mother to connect with her baby and his state of helplessness.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A place where verbalisation has no meaning

Caron¹,

Lopes²,

Donelli³

2013

“…Relying on some trained professionals' written reports, we conducted a joint analysis of the observation of the participants in the examination (Caron et al, 2008) and found that as a result of the intense internal, individual mobilisation in response to the image and the setting, all participants seem to have a reaction Infant Observation 87 which favours regression and which tends to encourage more sensitivity and open expression of sensations and feelings of helplessness, loneliness, vulnerability, ambivalence and rivalry.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

When the internal setting becomes more important than the therapist/analyst's interpretative capacity: extending the infant observation method to the prenatal and perinatal period

Caron¹,

Lopes²

2015

The authors continuing work over several years with Esther Bick's method of infant observation has created a strong sense of its usefulness as a tool for developing the capacity to 'listen' with increasing refinement to primitive psychic phenomena -as well as developing the receptive and containing capacity of professionals trained in observation. These capacities are essential for dealing with primitive transference/countertransference phenomena where the analyst's internal setting, her consistency, reliability, constancy and preoccupation is more important than her ability to interpret or her theoretical knowledge. The authors have begun to apply the method in longitudinal observational studies of obstetric ultrasound examinations, from the 12th week of gestation, up to delivery. The paper includes a brief case illustration of how the trained professional's internal setting, enriched by the original infant observation experience, may facilitate developmental processes, especially integration, during the delicate period of gestation, further helping parents to prepare for delivery with all its inherent anxieties.

A conversation with Isca Wittenberg

Allnutt¹

2011