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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?
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-
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-
- 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.
-
- ----------------
-
- 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.
-