42

Objective: Few French studies in psychology have focused on women who experience complications during pregnancy, such as threatened preterm labor (TPL) and gestational diabetes. This study focuses on the potential impact of these complications on the maternal representations of the child and of the woman as a mother-to-be, as well as on prenatal attachment. Method: In total, 472 pregnant women with or without pregnancy complications answered a sociodemographic questionnaire coupled with two scales of the R Interview (Stern et al., 1989) to measure representations of the role of the mother-to-be and the baby, as well as the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI) (Muller and Mercer, 1993) to assess the mother’s prenatal attachment to the child. Findings: Women with pregnancy complications hold a more negative view of their future child than women with complication-free pregnancies. However, across the whole sample, the representations of the future child are more positive than those of the future mother. In addition, prenatal attachment is higher among pregnant women who experience complications than those who do not. Conclusion: These results underline the importance of taking pregnancy complications into account, as they can impact the experience of pregnant women, their maternal representations, and their prenatal attachment. Providing close support to pregnant women facing complications can improve their experiences of pregnancy, while also improving the mother-child bond.