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CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
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00879.txt
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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK00879}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Have You Ever Heard of a Baby Secreting Milk from the Nipples?}
$Subject{newborn newborns breast breasts witches milk Childbirth Galactorrhea
baby babies infant infants}
$Volume{K-19}
$Log{}
Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
Have You Ever Heard of a Baby Secreting Milk from the Nipples?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I'm very worried about my newborn baby grandson. He is secreting
milk from his nipples. My daughter doesn't seem to be too concerned. She
says her doctor told her this is not that uncommon. Have you ever heard of
this in a baby?
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ANSWER: Yes. Galactorrhea, or a flow of milk in someone who is not nursing,
is a common occurrence in newborn infants. This milk is sometimes called
"witch's milk" because of a superstition that is centuries old. The condition
may persist until a baby is 2 months old, and the infant may really be very
healthy and otherwise "normal." The disorder was first noted in medical
literature in the 17th century and many superstitions developed about baby's
breast milk. The most common belief was that if the milk was not thoroughly
expressed from the infant, it would be stolen by witches and goblins for use
in brews, thus the term "witch's milk." Doctors, however, strongly discourage
trying to remove the milk through manipulation, because it can cause
inflammation and breast abscesses. My advice to you is not to worry. Leave
the baby's breasts alone, and this condition will disappear by itself in a few
weeks.
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.