Description: The babies-the human babies- That Dr. Romana Negri has worked with and here describes have indeed been torn into this world half-made-up. But what they lack in physiological equipment can usually be met by the advances of medical science. This book is all about the emotional experience of the baby in this predicament, who has not had enough of one type of life to be able to transfer its emotional allegiances to the new one. The approach to this problem, as it is illustrated here, involves a philosophy that goes far beyond the humane attitude of alleviating suffering which operates in hospital medicine.Through the work in mother-baby observation under Esther Bick and Martha Harris, supplemented more recently by observational research in fetal behavior by means of ultrasound, Dr. Negri has become deeply engaged in the philosophy of the essential individuality of the human being by virtue of its capacity to have experiences that shape the evolving structure of its person and personality.From the Foreword by Donald MelzerAs the hands stroked a line down my back from the nape of my neck, I was struck by the inspiration that I was a creature with a spine, an endoskeleton, an internally sustained identity; and all my senses at once sprang into order at the angelic command. To my terror I realized my eyes were about to open yet once more. I knew it must be death to presume to look into the heaven of heavens. But I had to know, I opened my eyes; I saw the bright stars that flamed in the forehead of the morning sky. In the midst of the dazzling white radiance that enveloped me closely, my mouth latched on to the nipple which was at its core. Simultaneously, the angel looked homeward into my heart of hearts, and I saw that I was a beautiful baby.From "The Ugly Duckling" by Meg Harris Williams

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