[Attachment and prematurity].

The path leading from the desire for a child, his or her birth to the very meeting with the newborn is pregnant with psychic experiences. Among the different experiences punctuating the way is found the process of attachment, that which is necessary to the establishing and structuring the link between the newborn, his or her mother, father and family. Prematurity, and along with it the receiving the premature babies in intensive care or neonatology units, modify the conditions of this meeting, in other word this getting to know one's baby. We will try and understand how and why the nature of the bond that is being created may then be altered. We will mention the characteristic troubles of attachment as reported in the literature. We will also discuss the possible ways of prevention or restoration to be set up. The evaluation of attachment, its follow-up, as well as the possibility of early care surrounding the mother-child bond should be encouraged nowadays for all premature babies and their parents.