Observation and reflection: An account of trans-cultural work in a student counselling service

Abstract

The infant observation material of a baby fed on one breast only led to thinking about collateral experiences inherent in the normal bilateral breast-feeding situation, such as the infant's perception of the symmetry of his own and his mother's body, and the tridimensional visual, auditory and tactile experience of his mother's presence.

Further thought is given to the numerous triangulations which are shaped spontaneously at the part-object level in the interaction between mother and baby. The material shows the particular difficulties of the weaning process, but reveals also how this baby who had missed the full experience at the breast created in his play more and more meaningful configurations which showed that he had been able to keep alive the preconception of the twoness of the breasts and other double body parts, and thereby to ‘nourish’ his mind with positive realizations which he could introject.