Witch's milk
Witch's milk or neonatal milk is milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn infants. Witch's milk is more likely to be secreted by infants born at full term, and not by prematurely-born infants. Breast milk production occurs in about 5% of newborns and can persist for two months though breast buds can persist into childhood.[1]
Neonatal milk secretion is considered a normal variation and no treatment or testing is necessary.[1] It is thought to be caused by a combination of the effects of maternal hormones before birth, prolactin and growth hormone passed through breast feeding and the postnatal pituitary and thyroid hormone surge in the infant.
The consistence of neonatal milk was estimated to be very similar to maternal milk.[2]
Neonatal milk production may be also sometimes caused by medications.[3]
In extremely rare cases neonatal mastitis may develop but it is unclear if it is related to neonatal milk secretion.
Blood from the nipples is nearly always benign and frequently associated with duct ectasia, it should only be investigated when it is unilateral.[4]
In some cultures the tradition of removing the milk has been reported. This practice can prolong milk production and other problems can not be excluded.[5] While breastfeeding may also contribute to prolonged milk production and breast enlargement temporary or permanent weaning is not recommended.
In folklore, witch's milk was believed to be a source of nourishment for witches' familiar spirits.[6] It was thought to be stolen from unwatched, sleeping infants. In other cultures milking the infant's breasts is supposed to contribute to shapely breasts in adulthood.
See also
References
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|pmid=16291370instead. "full text" (PDF). - ^ Potts, Malcolm (1999). Ever Since Adam and Eve: The Evolution of Human Sexuality. p. 145. ISBN 0521644046.
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