Alessandra Piontelli

After graduating as M.D. and specializing in Neurology and Psychiatry in Italy, I spent 1 year doing my internship in Delhi, India. Subsequently I worked and lived for many years in England.

Back in my home country I have been a Visiting Professor of Child Neurology and Psychiatry in several Universities and

I worked in the department of maternal-fetal medicine of the University of Milan. In addition to clinical work, I am an expert in fetal behavior.

Fetal behavior has been highly romanticized and fetuses are becoming cult figures, whilst women are increasingly tormented and loaded with axieties of all kinds. Besides research I love talking to pregnant women and listening to their problems.

Additionally, for about 15 years or so, I have been abroad on medical missions in many developing countries. This gave me the opportunity to compare the Western world with the developing world. Fetuses do not have any status when poverty, disease, and lack of sanitary care are prevalent. In these countries our current fetal cult just seems yet another Western fad.

Although I have published several books, the most purchased was a 1992 book 'From Fetus to Child' that was somewhat open to unverifiable interpretations of fetal behavior, given that future parents' comments on ultrasound were reported. If I could, I would recommend reading more recent books, and in particular 'Citizen Fetus' which will be released in February 2023. Since the early '90s I have changed and so has my knowledge. Besides now I am a grandmother...

During my career, I have been invited to lecture in many countries, including the USA.

I am married with two sons who live and work abroad (USA and UK).

My photographs and many related objects are housed in the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, USA.