72

A pregnancy following a termination of pregnancy (TOP) can bring back the process of mourning and accept the previous loss. When the representation of the lost child is impossible or unthinkable, the somatic complaint may come at the forefront. The associated pain, through the narcissistic investment that it mobilize, can protect by promoting a disinvestment of the lost object. According to Chabert (2003) “the path of sacrifice” would then allow the access of the symbolization and elaboration of the previous loss. From a clinical situation in which the complaint is prevalent during a pregnancy following an IMG, we will see that the expression of ambivalence towards the deceased baby will participate in a re-objectification of the latter, contributing in giving space for each of the two children, the one who has died and the one who is just born.