Posted by Jenny Hall, Mumsnet Barnet editor, on behalf of Irene Tagg
Dear pregnant mothers and new mothers-to-be
My name is Irene, and I'm a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist-in-training over the next two years. I am training with Terapia in Hendon. I can provide you with letters from Terapia as to my credentials, recommending me to you in the context of my training with them.
As a trainee I am looking for a pregnant mother or new mother-to-be in her third trimester, who would be interested in participating in a mother and baby observation study. This study will be at the heart of my training so that your baby's development will be as interesting and absorbing to me as to you, and I anticipate that we will both enjoy the experience a great deal.
The aim of the observation is to follow the gradual development of a newborn in their normal family setting. I want to understand what we go through at the start of our journey as human beings, the connection between a mother and her baby, and how a sense of self evolves in, and is felt, by the baby. As I watch, I'll be thinking about theories of baby and child development.
The observation will ideally take place over 40 visits in your baby's first year at home and will be quiet, non-judgemental and confidential. I understand that this is quite a commitment and I want to fit in with your normal routines and plans, at a time that is convenient for you, so I can be very flexible. If I meet other members of your family during the process, that will be interesting and helpful, but not necessary.
I hope this will be a holding and beneficial experience for both you and your baby, as well as a very rich experience for me. At the end I can provide you with a book of writing as to my observations over the year, and if you have agreed I can put in photos too, making this an additional memento of your baby's first 12 months of life.
My full name is Irene Tagg I can be contacted on 07525 751623 or via email: [email protected]
There is absolutely no obligation to take part in the observation once you have contacted me, but I would be so happy to hear from you and to think about this together.
Meantime, congratulations on having a baby. Amazing!
Irene