Is denial of pregnancy related to a mental pathology?

The denial of pregnancy being partial, total or absolute, refers to cases where the child has a biological existence but where he is not spoken, thought nor desired. The children denied before birth and sometimes even up to their birth are said to be carried by women "without belly" and are not welcomed at a level of experience and awareness. During the period of denial, no naming can symbolize this foreign body occurring in the woman's body because no representation and no affect is summoned. In this study, we will hypothesize that a certain level of denial is a common coping mechanism for a woman who is expecting a baby. In most cases, the subjective work necessary to adopt this biological presence makes the "mother of' and the child "the child of'. This work can be done once the pregnancy is revealed by language (spoken words), often thanks to the medical practitioners. But when the case of denial of pregnancy is absolute this work is not achievable. In consequence, this risk of impulsive acting-out is very important. However, these cases of denial are rare. Indeed, most denials of pregnancy are not related to a confirmed mental pathology. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.