From Pregnancy to Motherhood: Psychoanalytic aspects of the beginning of the mother-child relationship 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 views of motherhood are influenced by social, cultural, and biotechnological factors; how women’s sense of identity changes throughout pregnancy and motherhood; how women’s relationships with 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, and 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” 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. It will 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.

Gina Ferrara Mori is a member and training analyst of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society and the International Psychoanalytic Association. She is a child and adult psychoanalyst, and supervisor of the psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists at the Martha Harris Study Centre in Florence.