Denial of Pregnancy and Childbirth

Abstract

Pregnancy is seen as a period of psychological maturation during which old conflicts related to sexuality, aggression, dependency, autonomy and motherhood are rekindled and old solutions reworked. Anxiety associated with these conflicts may threaten to overwhelm the pregnant woman's ability to cope in an adaptive fashion and may result in the denial of pregnancy as a defense. Denial and rationalization of symptoms and denial of pregnancy may result in inadequate behavioural responses at the time of childbirth, and may result in the death of the newborn. The denial may also extend to the patient's social network and may continue through the post-partum period. The strength of the denial may be so great as to thwart attempts at psychotherapeutic intervention.