‘For now we see through a glass, darkly’: the timelessness of emotional difficulties during the perinatal period

Abstract

This article considers the sense of time during pregnancy and the postnatal period. The author describes three time frames, finite time, structured time and timelessness and how these are encountered during the perinatal period. She uses clinical material to illustrate structured time and timelessness in particular focusing on the darkness of the material and the distress experienced by patients suffering from antenatal and postnatal depression. The clinical work enables mothers to find a way to their baby.

Keywords:

• time frames
• pregnancy
• perinatal period
• foetal development
• psychological development
• motherhood
• postnatal depression
• parental mental health
• bereavement
• bonding
• attachment

Notes

¹An earlier version of this article was presented as a paper at the Association of Child Psychotherapists’ Annual Conference 21–22 June 2007: Time, Timing and Tempo in the work of the Child Psychotherapist.