Neonatal milk: nipple lactation just after birth...

[Muffin]

The other day my mother and I were discussing "stuff", we were talking about klinefelter's syndrome because I told her a lot of the symptoms for it are things that I've experienced. She wants me to go for a karyotype test but I don't ..ANYWAY..... while trying to figure out why she wanted to know so much she told me that after I was born one of my nipples was lactating. I just remembered about it before and decided to look it up....

Neonatal milk is milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn infants. It is the result of influence by the mother's hormones before birth. Neonatal milk is more likely to be secreted by infants born at full term, than by prematurely-born  infants. Breast milk production occurs in about 5% of newborns and can persist for two months though palpable breast buds can persist into childhood.

There is no treatment necessary; unless redness, tenderness, or fever develop which may be a sign of mastitis and may require antibiotics. Blood from the nipples is nearly always benign and associated with the normal growth of the ducts, rather than mastitis. Removing the milk from the breasts can prolong milk production and is considered necessary in some cultures. While breastfeeding may also contribute to prolonged milk production and breast enlargement temporary or permanent weaning is not recommended.

I was wondering if anyone else has heard of it? It seems like one of those things that is either overlooked or ...really..... means nothing and is completely unrelated. Though the fact they say "It is the result of influence by the mother's hormones before birth", is interesting. *shrugs*.

[Myself]

Well, not really.. as extra estrogen at the womb only contributes to further male development, ironically enough.

It could have been prolactin, which has nothing to do with sexual development, just purely milk production.. If I remember properly then not even milk production, but only "letting the milk go". As in, making it possible for the milk to be released from the breasts.

[Muffin]

yeah I doubt it would be from too high a level of estrogen. But I could see how it could be linked to higher levels of prolactin.
It's interesting they said that it's more likely to be secreted by infants born at full term, than by prematurely-born infants. Which makes me think that the mothers body continues to increasingly produce more and more prolactin as it gets closer to birth readying itself for breast feeding and with the baby being full term or even a little later than expected those higher prolactin levels could be passed on to the baby, hence the flow. That makes sense.. though it would also suggest there being no link... which I did consider.

[Sandy]

I've heard nurses refer to it colloqually as "witches milk" when I was in lamse training. As has been said, there is some belief that it is somehow related to exposure to higher hormone levels in the womb but has no lasting effect.

-Sandy

[Muffin]

Yeah I deliberately avoided the 'witches milk' reference as it originates from superstition, which....ain't my thang. But thanks! ^________^

[RezzelZek]

My mum has just told me that this happened to me i was producing milk form both nipples makes me wonder if it is linked to been ts