Witch's milk

Witch's milk or neonatal milk is milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn human infants of either sex.[1] Production of neonatal milk by infants usually resolves itself and does not require treatment unless it is caused by an underlying condition or medications.[2] It is thought to be caused by the exposure to an elevated level of estrogen to infants during pregnancy[2] or decreased exposure of estrogen to infants after birth.[3] Its production also may be caused by certain medications.[4][5] The composition of neonatal milk is similar to maternal milk for most of their components except for fats and one type of antibody.[6][7]

Neonatal milk production occurs in about 6% of newborns with age from 0 to 12 weeks. Within the age range, infants age 0 to 2 weeks were found to have the highest occurrence. Compared to those who did not have neonatal milk production, infants who did had larger breast nodules.[8] Pre-term infants under the gestational age of 34 weeks did not secrete milk as observed in one study.[9] Complications such as mastitis and abscesses are associated with breast massage of the neonate's breast.[10] Squeezing of neonate's breast could also result in an infection.[3] Blood from the nipples is nearly always benign and frequently associated with duct ectasia; it should only be investigated when it is unilateral.[11]

The name witch's milk originates from ancient folklore[12] and is associated with religious and cultural interpretations.[13][14]

  1. ^ Devidayal MD (November 2005). "A male infant with gynecomastia-galactorrhea". The Journal of Pediatrics. 147 (5): 712. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.06.026. PMID 16291370. "full text" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b Leung AK, Pacaud D (August 2004). "Diagnosis and management of galactorrhea". American Family Physician. 70 (3): 543–550. PMID 15317441.
  3. ^ a b Raveenthiran V (2013-07-01). "Neonatal Mastauxe (Breast Enlargement of the Newborn)". Journal of Neonatal Surgery. 2 (3): 31. doi:10.47338/jns.v2.43. ISSN 2226-0439. PMC 4422278. PMID 26023451.
  4. ^ Paturi B, Ryan RM, Michienzi KA, Lakshminrusimha S (May 2009). "Galactorrhea with metoclopramide use in the neonatal unit". Journal of Perinatology. 29 (5): 391–392. doi:10.1038/jp.2008.246. PMID 19398999.
  5. ^ De S, Taylor CM (January 2007). "Domperidone toxicity in an infant on maintenance haemodialysis". Pediatric Nephrology. 22 (1): 161–162. doi:10.1007/s00467-006-0263-7. PMID 16960712.
  6. ^ Yap PL, Mirtle CL, Harvie A, McClelland DB (March 1980). "Milk protein concentrations in neonatal milk (witch's milk)". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 39 (3): 695–697. PMC 1538139. PMID 7379333.
  7. ^ McKiernan J, Hull D (January 1982). "The constituents of neonatal milk". Pediatric Research. 16 (1): 60–64. doi:10.1203/00006450-198201001-00012. ISSN 0031-3998. PMID 7200227.
  8. ^ Madlon-Kay DJ (March 1986). "'Witch's milk'. Galactorrhea in the newborn". American Journal of Diseases of Children. 140 (3): 252–253. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1986.02140170078035. PMID 3946357.
  9. ^ McKiernan JF, Hull D (July 1981). "Breast development in the newborn". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 56 (7): 525–529. doi:10.1136/adc.56.7.525. ISSN 0003-9888. PMC 1627340. PMID 7271286.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Weimann E (March 2003). "Clinical management of nipple discharge in neonates and children". Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 39 (2): 155–156. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00118.x. PMID 12603810. S2CID 34248317.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).