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Prevention of neonaticide and abandonment from a prenatal stage in France
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 April 2020
Abstract
From 1987 to 2002, I followed nine women who killed their baby newborn and nearly ninety women who denied their pregnancy or their delivery in Paris area. A comparison between the clinical findings of the two groups led me to identify prevention strategy at a prenatal stage:
1. Detecting harmful thoughts towards the baby before birth
Among the women who denied or concealed their pregnancy some revealed having negative or violent impulse thoughts against the foetus after the end of pregnancy denial. Some also displayed suicidal impulse thoughts. These harmful thoughts decreased after they spoke out past traumatic sexual abuse, especially if the foetus was the result of rape.
2. Listening and planning the delivery time
Some were not able to content their thoughts and act out them in beating up their abdomen and consequently the foetus. They felt so guilty they avoided planning the delivery time as a consequence. Some have killed their child because they were afraid to explain this to healthcare professionals. They denied the birth and delivered alone.
3. Offering an anonymous welcome if they wish to do so
I observed that to welcome with anonymity before birth increased their care for the future of the newborn.
- Type
- S43. Symposium: Female Offender Patients in Europe
- Information
- European Psychiatry , Volume 22 , Issue S1: 15th AEP Congress - Abstract book - 15th AEP Congress , March 2007 , pp. S70
- Copyright
- Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2007
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