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Ghosts in the nursery: A case study of the maternal representations of a woman who killed her baby
Abstract
The maternal representations as described by Stern (1995:171-190) are used in an extreme case to illustrate the link between depression and pathogenic maternal representations. The “motherhood constellation” focuses on the woman's representation of her mother as mother-of-herself-as-child, herself-as-a-mother and her representations of
her child. Depression impacts seriously and negatively on the woman's representations of herself-as-a-mother. Destructive mothering influences the mother's representation of herself-as-a-mother and it is likely that her child will also receive destructive mothering. Depression during pregnancy could be a warning sign that unrealistic expectations
are being placed on the pregnancy and/or the baby to improve the life of the mother, or that pathogenic representations are present or developing. Depression can lead to the use of splitting and projection as defence mechanisms: this involves that parts with which a depressed person cannot identify are projected onto a baby, and this is likely to result in abuse, neglect or even the death of a child. The early identification of pathogenic maternal
representations and depression may make it possible to promote infant mental health.
Keywords: maternal representations; depression; destructive mothering; case study; infant mental health
Health SA Gesondheid Vol. 10 (3) 2005: pp. 3-13
