4 Unexpected Causes Of Swollen Breasts In Newborns

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Swollen breasts in newborns is a common finding often noticed by parents or caregivers within a few days after birth. Slight swelling in the breast area is not a cause for concern, and this is due to the effects of increased levels of estrogenⁱA sex hormone that helps develop female sexual characteristics and manages their reproductive health. hormones in pregnancy for maternal breast enlargement (1)

Usually, this swelling disappears after two weeks of life when the hormones disappear in the baby’s body (2). Read on to know more about swollen breasts in newborns.

Hormonal Changes In Babies

Swollen breasts are a common concern for parents of newborns, but it’s normally nothing serious (2).

• The swollen breasts can, at times, produce a milk-like liquid. Do not be alarmed as galactorrhea in babies can be normal. Also, do not squeeze the nipples to try and get the milk out. If you just leave it alone, it will resolve on its own (3).

• This swollen breast happens because the mother’s hormones are passed to the newborn baby before delivery.

• Swollen breasts appear within a few days after the delivery and will disappear within a few weeks but can take up to a few months to completely go away.

Quick fact

The usual diameter of the breast budⁱA small, disc-shaped lump under the nipple and areola, known to be caused by maternal estrogen. in the first few weeks of life measures one to two centimeters (1).

Causes Of Swollen Breasts In Newborns

Many parents may get tensed by seeing the swollen breasts in infants, but once the cause for these swollen breasts is known, you will feel relaxed (4) (5).

1. Typically in a pregnant woman, there are many changes happening physically and mentally as well. You can notice changes in the breast during your entire pregnancy.
   

   Image: Shutterstock

2. In the final days of your pregnancy, you can see such changes a lot; this is due to your body preparing itself for breastfeeding your baby.

3. These hormonal changes are passed to the infant also and the same effect is seen in them where their prolactin levels change due to the changing maternal estrogen levels.

4. When a baby is in the mother’s womb, he or she absorbs many hormones from the mother’s blood. But after the baby is born, this regular supply of chemicals is cut off. Due to this, certain hormonal changes happen in the babies, which are generally temporary in nature.

Did you know?

The milk secreted from the enlarged breasts of an infant is also known as Witch’s milk and it resembles maternal milk in terms of IgAⁱThe antibody found in the mucus membranes of the respiratory and digestive systems, and breast milk, tears, and saliva. , IgGⁱThe most common antibody found in blood and other body fluids, which helps fight viral and bacterial infections. , lactoferrinⁱA iron-binding protein found in colostrum and breastmilk that helps develop immunity. , lysozymeⁱAn enzyme found in breastmilk, saliva, tears, and mucus that has antimicrobial properties. and lactalbuminⁱA protein found in whey that regulates lactose synthesis and plays an essential role in milk production. content (1).

Tips For Concerned Parents

It can be worrying for the parents to see these changes in their newborn baby’s body. Always check with your doctor if you are unsure. Here are some general do’s and don’ts to follow at home.

• Some parents try to pinch the swollen area too much and see if that will help in reducing the swollen breast, but that will cause irritation to the newborn babies (6). Avoid doing this.

• Since this is not a serious problem, give it some time to shrink naturally. This will disappear around the 5th week of the baby’s birth.

• Do not massage or squeeze the swollen area. You should wash them during the bath and wipe them well to keep the area dry. Too much massage or pinching the swollen area can cause infection.

Image: Shutterstock

When You Should Consult A Doctor

As discussed earlier, swollen breasts in newborn are not worrisome since they will shrink naturally in a few weeks. However, you should consult a doctor in the following cases:

• If the swollen breast appears red
• If your baby has a high fever along with a swollen breast
• If the swelling is increasing everyday

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As parents, it is normal to worry about anything that seems unusual for your infant. Swollen breasts in newborns are usually caused due to the effect of the high estrogen environment while inside the womb or during birth. It subsides within a few weeks of life and is not a cause of concern, but monitoring the atypical signs is important. Avoid pinching or massaging the area even if there is whitish liquid discharge, and clean them during the bath. Also, if the swelling increases or is accompanied by redness or fever, or a purulent discharge seek a suggestion from a pediatrician as it might indicate infantile mastitis (7).

Infographic: Things To Remember About Swollen Breasts In Newborn

Swollen breasts in newborns, or neonatal breast engorgement, is a common and temporary condition. It is usually not a cause for concern and typically self-resolves. However, staying informed about neonatal breast engorgement can help you manage the condition better and provide appropriate care to your newborn. Read the infographic below for more information about neonatal breast engorgement and its essential features.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Unexpected Causes Of Swollen Breasts In Newborns

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

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Dr. Wayne HoughMBChB, MMed, FC Paeds

Dr. Wayne Hough is a pediatrician with around six years of experience in the field. He is currently based in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa. Dr. Hough got his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Anindita Ghatak holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from Amity University, Kolkata. During the course of her studies, she has worked on different research projects in the fields of Microbiology and Bioinformatics. Anindita has over three years of experience writing medical articles for journals.

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