Acting out and transference themes induced by successive pregnancies of the analyst.

The analyst's pregnancy can be considered a major organiser of the unfolding transference. In a detailed account of the analysis of a female patient who was confronted twice with the pregnancy of the analyst, the similarities and differences of the transference on both occasions are highlighted, with special emphasis on the occurrence of acting out. An analyst's pregnancy intensifies the transference and requires from the patient the capacity to experience the intensity of the evoked feelings. Accordingly, acting out is shown to be more vehement in the course of both pregnancies. The further the analytical process has evolved, the better these feelings are tolerated and the more susceptible they are to subsequent analysis.