ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the mother's highly idealized conscious ideas about breast-feeding, and the less conscious and unconscious processes by which the breast seemed to become a devalued and at times contemptible object for her baby. A most significant aspect of the anti-orthodox ideology was the belief apparently held by Jenny that the breast would provide for all Anna's needs and would serve to maintain a blissful state of fusion between mother and baby, almost as if the separative act of birth could be nullified. Anna suddenly let go of the nipple and turned her head away from the breast, and Jenny lifted her and turned her around, offering the other breast. Although the quality of the feeding relationship had become problematic by the time Anna reached the age of 1½ years, no significant change was initiated by either mother or baby. Anna "played" with the breast with frustration rather than pleasure, reaching for the nipple then turning away almost immediately.
