title: The impact of prior medical termination of pregnancy on the mother's early relationship with a subsequent infant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is insufficient research on the mother's early relationship with a child born subsequent to a previous medical termination of pregnancy (TOP). This study explores mother-infant interactions following prior TOP and the impact on the infant's development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Being an exploratory research comprising 12 mother-infant (6-7 months old) couples, following prior TOP, and five controls, this study uses a descriptive methodology and a qualitative approach. The Greenspan and Lieberman Observation Scale (GLOS) and the Stern's "R"-Interview were employed to investigate the mother-infant relationship. We used the Brunet-Lézine's Revised Scales (BL-R) and the Projective Kit for Early Childhood (PKEC) to assess the infant's development. Grief resolution was taken into account (Perinatal Grief Scale, semi-structured interview).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The later the perinatal loss, the less likely children are to express their emotions and respond contingently (GLOS). Their psychomotor (BL-R) and emotional (PKEC) development remains adequate. Unresolved grief is associated with more pronounced disturbances: no dyadic exchange (GLOS), language disruptions (BL-R), and withdrawal from the environment (PKEC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that mother-infant interactions following a prior late TOP could undergo disturbances, which do not lead systematically to pathogenic effect on the subsequent child. Nevertheless, unresolved grief could lead to adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences , University of Mons , Mons , Belgium .
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium , and.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Votino
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences , University of Mons , Mons , Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Noose
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium , and.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cos Sanchez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences , University of Mons , Mons , Belgium .
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaugue
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium , and.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jani
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007804:Language Development; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Child development; early interactions; mother-infant relationship; perinatal grief; termination of pregnancy