<P><B>The importance of intimacy between a mother and her baby and how this can impact a child's ability to develop relationships early in life</B></P><P>For more than 20 years, Naomi Stadlen has listened to hundreds of mothers talking at her weekly discussion groups. Here she offers unique insights into how mothers and babies learn to communicate intimately with one another. When adults relate to one another, they are building on the foundations usually laid down by their mothers, and this study explores how mothers start to build those foundations. It covers areas such as how to create emotional "space" for an unborn child, how to maintain a close relationship with two or more children, the transformation into motherhood, and one's role as a mother in wider society. By sharing the experiences of other mothers, Naomi Stadlen offers reassurance and support to all new parents as they navigate the highs and lows of the early years with their babies.