DRAWING, PREGNANCY AND THE UNBORN CHILD

On the basis of three research studies in psychoanalytic and developmental clinical psychology, each of which focuses on representations of pregnant women's bodies and the unborn baby during pregnancy, we seek to emphasize the value of inviting expectant mothers to draw during interviews in the perinatal period as a means of psychic elaboration. As such, our objective is to present these three studies and the clinical contexts in which this methodology has been made use of (with populations of first-time and multiparous pregnant women, and generating both quantitative and qualitative data). The analysis of these drawings is shown to be pertinent during research interviews and, additionally, in the context of the prevention of perinatal psychopathology. The invitation to draw resulted in rich associative material, accompanying the work of maternal parental representation.