The expression “coming into the world” is most significant for indicating the event of being born. The child existed already inside the body of the mother, and one hopes, in the feelings oflove felt by the parents, but he was on the inside, separated, invisible.

Only his mother experienced him inside of her: sensations never before felt, never even imagined, so unusual that they seem unpleasant at first and then later are extraordinary. “He’s alive inside of me – he’s moving – he really exists.”

Thoughts, fears, hopes crowd together around these feelings and are deeply difficult to talk about with others, even those people who are most dear.