Observing the mother-child relationship in hospital

Breastfeeding is a fundamental stage in the development and mental formation of human beings, and its study has always been relevant in the academic context. This book invites the reader to experience the application of part of Esther Bick’s Observational Mother and Baby Monitoring Method (ORMB) in a specific context: the hospital. The aim of the study is to trace the communication between mothers and their babies immediately after childbirth and during breastfeeding, while still in the maternity ward, and to see if there is a pattern in this communication. To this end, two dyads (mother and baby) were observed, taking into account the feelings and sensations of the observer-author, as recommended by the original ORMB method. The results show that the extra-uterine relationship in each dyad has a unique quality and each child develops communication with their mother in a different way. Despite this, some of the observer’s feelings and sensations were common to both reports, which may indicate that, according to the method recommended by Bick, some experiences were common to both dyads. The book is aimed at health professionals and is introspective and moving. Happy reading!