Inhalt
A longitudinal observational study from pregnancy onwards shows that the mother's emotional/muscular tension affects her body-self perception, posture and body language, the perception of the pre- and postnatal baby and the progress of labour and birth. The mother-baby relationship is shaped during prenatal life and is exquisitely bodily. The mother's body is the visible metaphor of her feelings about her pregnancy, birth and baby. Her body-self image is seen as a psycho-physiological process, which continuously and harmoniously adjusts to the emotional and physical changes brought by pregnancy and birth. The womb, as receiver and sender of messages, is for the unborn baby a sonorous environment and a learning ground. The baby's earliest perceptions concern rhythms: mother's heart and breathing activities, digestion sounds, voice, rhythm of her body in motion and at rest and other rhythms which our adult mind is unable to conceive. Their emotional content can be distorted or amplified by the muscular resonance of the mother, an aspect of her body-self image. This rhythms coordination forms the primal dialogue between mother and baby. The mother's integrated or harmonious body-self image may impinge on the unborn baby's core self-perception. Mter birth, it will let her love gestures evolve free from excessive tension and display through the way of holding, rocking, feeding and talking to her baby. Therefore, birth is a re-meeting between two individuals who have long been communicating. Given the extraordinary sensitiveness of the baby to vibrations, I conceive music, and mindfull baby massage postnatally as powerful means of enhancing the primal communication. Moreover, they may help mother integrate her body-self image and consequently, promote a harmonious development of the baby's body-self image. However, the mother is not just a receptor but also a container in that she creatively gives meanings to the baby's signals. Before seeing, the baby has long been seen and to become self- observer he needs to be sensitively and mindfully observed. The womb space is a creative space, which needs to be filled with the mother's creativity in order for her to be able to contain herself as well as her baby. The regressive state of the pregnant woman seems to be adaptive and enables her to rediscover her primitive language and thus identify with her baby through mirroring. The surrounding environment of the mother, whether it is supportive or not, affects the perception of her internal space, her body and her baby. Improving the conditions of birth means encouraging the mother-baby dance, a more likely fulfilled individual and thus working for a better society. It is of utmost importance that research take into consideration the psyche-biological unit during pregnancy, which proves the importance of the relationship from conception. Research has to embody the subjective factors. Therefore, it has to do more listening and observational study on the mother's and father's pre-birth and birth experience. Furthermore, research needs to take place hand by hand with emotional support to allow the mother, and the couple, to feel safe and confident in a natural environment. This is one of the guide principle of "Active Birth", which proves being the optimal approach to pregnancy, birth and childcare, as it allows the woman to express her body-self image in its wholeness and thus to use her natural resources. Evidence shows that when the mother doesn't feel secure and confident, the progress of labour and birth is altered and so are the earliest interactions with her baby.