The beginnings of love : development of the prenatal relationship

Abstract

This thesis weaves together disparate sources of theoretical knowledge with the lived experience of 11 women to illuminate the mysterious world of pre-natal relating - the foundation for postnatal life and the beginnings of the capacity to love. Love and supportive relationships can ameliorate stress and trauma post-birth, but do they operate prenatally, and if so how? This research clearly shows that mothers relate to their preborns and from the rich detail of their stories, the author proposes a schema that captures the complexity and changing nature of prenatal relating. The basic physiological and neurological structures are formed from conception, making the preborn vulnerable to the effects of direct and maternal experience. Preborns have extensive capacities that include the potential for interaction. These capacities and experiences affect infant development post birth. This evidence supports the author's initial hypothesis that prenatal stress is a significant factor in the attentional and behavioural problems of childhood, and challenges purely genetic explanations. 'Normal' life events have greater potency during pregnancy, making the transition to parenthood stressful even for many women in low risk situations. Feeling supported is essential for the health and well-being of the mother and preborn. This thesis reports a phenomenological and prospective study of 11 pregnant women as they lived the prenatal journey. From the interviews, it describes the development of the prenatal relationship and the range of stressful and supportive factors that should be considered in the creation of child and family friendly communities.

Date of Award	2002
Original language	English