Abstract □ 130

This paper is based on the results of research pertaining to factors of vulnerability in infants who are victims of ALTE or sudden death (TOUVENOT, 1997).

We would like to underscore the fundamental unity of the human being and show the importance of somatic functions of relation in the infant. We will try to understand these pathologies by taking the psychosomatic mother-child unit into account. We will also underline the importance of early interactions.

The purpose of our overview, therefore, will be to:

  • show the influence of mother-child interactive problems on Gastroesophageal Reflux and Vagal Over-Reactivity, which can be considered an indicator of stress vulnerability;

  • stress the importance of affective security at the beginning of the new-born baby's life. It will contribute to the building of its psychosomatic autonomy and help it to overcome its primary state of distress. We will show, on this subject that the fœtal period is already decisive;

  • put the emphasis on the maternal function and in particular on the role it plays as a ≪ protective shield ≫. We would like to review current paediatric nursing practices in France, and show that some of them weaken infants by making them insecure;

  • stress the importance of fitting out each infant's environment to suit its particular sensitivity. Since each infant is different right from the start, the standardisation of infant-care seems quite open to criticism.

To sum up, we propose that thought be given, from a curative and preventive view point, to the conditions of reception and accompaniment of the mother-infant couple that may have positive effects in treating this problem.