ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the reasons for neglecting the wet nurse and the nanny in psychological theories. The psychological ideas about attachment, trauma and melancholia that have been explored have brought further understanding of the effects of surrogate mothering. It is therefore necessary to explore some psychological theories on trauma, attachment and melancholia, in order to deepen people understanding of the lasting 'impression' the wet nurse and the nanny can leave and in so doing gain a better understanding of why her 'impression' has remained so hidden. This 'second mother' can leave painful 'impressions' upon the infant psyche when she leaves. She may have been the first love in a child's life and her loss may lead to permanent disruption in the infant mind. The argument so suggests that trauma theory and attachment theory have helped to see more sensitively the vulnerability of the newborn infant.
