[Comparison of the behavior of full-term infant mothers and premature infant mothers during an interaction with their babies].

Studies on the first interactions have permitted the identification of both mother and the infant competences. But we have observed that in the case of a preterm birth, the infant's competences are in a large way transformed. In this situation, the mother has to adjust her own competences to the preterm infant's decreased response level. We studied 10 full term mother-infant and 10 preterm mother-infant dyads on videotapes and observed non-verbal and verbal behavioral differences between the two samples. We noted differing characteristics in postures, gaze, gesture, mimics, as well as in speech addressed to the infants. These observations have permitted a better comprehension of the way in which full term infant mothers interact with their babies, through anticipation on the corporal level as well as on the verbal level of the infant's activity. In contrast, the preterm infant mothers do not anticipate the infant's behavior, but rather stimulate him in a continuous way.