Luto materno na perda perinatal: um estudo psicanalítico

Abstract

The death of the fetus or baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth constitutes a traumatic experience, as it interrupts the emotional investment developed by the mother and frustrates the expectations regarding human development. The present study aims to investigate the aspects that contribute to maternal grief following perinatal loss from a psychoanalytic perspective. Through the contributions of classical authors such as Freud and Winnicott, as well as contemporary psychoanalytic theorists, this research seeks to identify the psychic aspects involved in pregnancy and to describe the characteristics of maternal grief in the face of perinatal loss. In this sense, the study discusses the particularities of the mother-infant bond during the gestational period and how the abrupt interruption of this experience can trigger severe psychological consequences, such as pathological grief. The literature review highlights the importance of the social recognition of perinatal loss and the legitimacy of maternal mourning. It is concluded that a welcoming environment offers the necessary conditions for embracing the pain of bereaved mothers, thus fostering the maternal psychic reconstruction after the loss.