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Artificial insemination activated Oedipal fantasies which were relived in the transference. It was extremely important to the patient that she have a male child. When in fact she had a female child this was experienced as punishment for her 'dirty' Oedipal wishes. The patient reacted with guilt and regression into a postpartum psychosis in which she believed that she was the Virgin Mary and had an Immaculate Conception. It was essentially a defensive retreat from her feelings of 'dirtiness'.