The Psychological Experience of Nursing Mothers upon Learning of a Toxic Substance in Their Breast Milk

This study explores the psychological reactions of a group of nursing mothers whose breast milk was inadvertently contaminated with a toxic fire-retardant chemical, polybrominated bihenyl. In particular, the extent to which the 97 mothers in the study denied the presence and possible effects of the chemical in their offspring is examined. Corresponding psychological defenses and reactions such as guilt or ambivalence in the nursing relationship and efforts at mastery of the situation are described with accompanying clinical illustrations. Insofar as the presence of a variety of toxic chemicals in the environment has been reported, the psychological reactions discussed here may have widespread application.