Witch's milk or neonatal milk is milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn human infants of either sex.[1] Neonatal milk secretion is considered a normal physiological occurrence and no treatment or testing is necessary.[2] It is thought to be caused by a combination of the effects of maternal hormones before birth, prolactin, and growth hormone passed through breastfeeding and the postnatal pituitary and thyroid hormone surge in the infant.[2]
Breast milk production occurs in about 5% of newborns and can persist for two months though breast buds can persist into childhood. Witch's milk is more likely to be secreted by infants born at full term, and not by prematurely born infants.[2] The consistency of neonatal milk is estimated to be quite similar to maternal milk.[3] Its production also may be caused by certain medications.[4] In extremely rare cases neonatal mastitis may develop but it is unclear if it is related to neonatal milk secretion.[citation needed] Blood from the nipples is nearly always benign and frequently associated with duct ectasia; it should only be investigated when it is unilateral.[5]
Cultural interpretationsedit
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 expressing milk from the infant's breasts is supposed to contribute to a good breast shape in adulthood.[1]
In some cultures, the tradition of removing the milk ("milking") has been reported. This practice can prolong milk production and other problems cannot be ruled out.[1] While breastfeeding may also contribute to prolonged milk production and breast enlargement, temporary, or permanent weaning is not recommended.[citation needed]
^ abcDevidayal (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).
^ abcMadlon-Kay, D. J. (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.
^Yap, P. L.; Mirtle, C. L.; Harvie, A.; McClelland, D. B. (1980). "Milk protein concentrations in neonatal milk (witch's milk)". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 39 (3): 695–697. PMC1538139. PMID 7379333.
^Paturi, B.; Ryan, R. M.; Michienzi, K. A.; Lakshminrusimha, S. (2009). "Galactorrhea with metoclopramide use in the neonatal unit". Journal of Perinatology. 29 (5): 391–392. doi:10.1038/jp.2008.246. PMID 19398999.
^Weimann, E. (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.
witch, milk, neonatal, milk, milk, secreted, from, breasts, some, newborn, human, infants, either, neonatal, milk, secretion, considered, normal, physiological, occurrence, treatment, testing, necessary, thought, caused, combination, effects, maternal, hormone. Witch s milk or neonatal milk is milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn human infants of either sex 1 Neonatal milk secretion is considered a normal physiological occurrence and no treatment or testing is necessary 2 It is thought to be caused by a combination of the effects of maternal hormones before birth prolactin and growth hormone passed through breastfeeding and the postnatal pituitary and thyroid hormone surge in the infant 2 Breast milk production occurs in about 5 of newborns and can persist for two months though breast buds can persist into childhood Witch s milk is more likely to be secreted by infants born at full term and not by prematurely born infants 2 The consistency of neonatal milk is estimated to be quite similar to maternal milk 3 Its production also may be caused by certain medications 4 In extremely rare cases neonatal mastitis may develop but it is unclear if it is related to neonatal milk secretion citation needed Blood from the nipples is nearly always benign and frequently associated with duct ectasia it should only be investigated when it is unilateral 5 Cultural interpretations editIn 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 expressing milk from the infant s breasts is supposed to contribute to a good breast shape in adulthood 1 In some cultures the tradition of removing the milk milking has been reported This practice can prolong milk production and other problems cannot be ruled out 1 While breastfeeding may also contribute to prolonged milk production and breast enlargement temporary or permanent weaning is not recommended citation needed See also editGalactorrhea Gynecomastia BreastfeedingReferences edit a b c Devidayal 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 a b c Madlon Kay D J 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 Yap P L Mirtle C L Harvie A McClelland D B 1980 Milk protein concentrations in neonatal milk witch s milk Clinical and Experimental Immunology 39 3 695 697 PMC 1538139 PMID 7379333 Paturi B Ryan R M Michienzi K A Lakshminrusimha S 2009 Galactorrhea with metoclopramide use in the neonatal unit Journal of Perinatology 29 5 391 392 doi 10 1038 jp 2008 246 PMID 19398999 Weimann E 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 Potts Malcolm 1999 Ever Since Adam and Eve The Evolution of Human Sexuality p 145 ISBN 978 0521644044 nbsp This medical sign article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Witch 27s milk amp oldid 1188109761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
