The mother, the baby, the pouch and the observer. Feeding difficulties of an infant on the kangaroo mother programme

Abstract

This paper presents observations of a premature baby girl in the Kangaroo out-patient programme in Colombia following her through from the 35th week of gestation to reaching full term age. The focus is placed on feeding and survival mother's and baby's exeriences, difficulties and crises in a situation where there is a thin line between life and death. It also explores the role of the observer as a container of extremely primitive anxieties that if not dealt with appropriately and at the right time, might become harmful for the baby. Finally it shows the capacities and mutual adaptations of mother and baby to reestablish breast feeding again despite adverse circumstances and describes the way in which the containing functions of observer, grandfather and mother combined to allow the baby to keep feeding physically and emotionally and ultimately to develop and survive.