CLAIM:
Breast swelling in newborn babies is normal and usually happens due to the mother’s hormones present in the baby. Pressing or squeezing the swollen area to remove milk is unnecessary and can lead to infections or other complications.
FACT:
Breast swelling and milky discharge in newborns, known as neonatal galactorrhea or “witch’s milk,” is usually a normal and temporary condition caused by maternal hormones. Experts advise not to squeeze or “milk” the swelling, as it typically resolves on its own. However, medical help should be sought if it persists or the area becomes red, tender, or painful, as manipulation can increase the risk of infections such as mastitis or breast abscess.
In a viral reel posted by Dr Imran Patel, a paediatrician with over 1 crore followers on Instagram, the doctor addresses a common belief many families encounter after a baby is born, whether the swelling in a newborn’s chest should be pressed or “milked” to remove fluid.
In the video, Dr Imran explains that some elders often advise pressing a newborn’s chest to squeeze out what is believed to be milk. Referring to a case, he says a baby was brought to him after family members (old man) insisted that the swelling should be pressed. “The chest area of a newborn baby is swollen. People say you should press it and remove the milk, otherwise there will be a problem,” he says, describing the advice often given in households.
He clarifies that such swelling is normal in newborns and occurs because the baby is still influenced by the mother’s hormones. “The swelling in the chest of a newborn baby is normal because the mother’s hormones are in the baby,” he explains. Dr Imran warns that squeezing or pressing the area can lead to serious complications. Showing the baby in the reel, he points to an infection that developed after the area was repeatedly pressed. “You can see there is a complete infection here. There is pus, and now we will have to drain it and give medicines and dressings,” he says.
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He further advises parents not to allow anyone to press the swollen area and reassures them that it usually resolves on its own. “If there is a newborn baby in your house, tell the massage lady and elders not to press it. It settles on its own in about six to eight weeks,” he says.
The reel has gained 5.2 million views, over 1.04 lakh likes, and 49,400 shares, sparking discussion among parents about whether breast swelling in newborns should be squeezed or left alone.
What is 'witch’s milk'?
Some newborn babies may develop mild swelling of the breast area and occasionally produce a small amount of milky fluid from their nipples. Medically, this is known as neonatal galactorrhea, a temporary condition caused by hormones passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy. These maternal hormones can stimulate the baby’s breast tissue, leading to swelling and, in some cases, a few drops of milk-like discharge.
The phenomenon is commonly referred to as “witch’s milk,” a term that dates back to the 17th century. At the time, people believed witches would steal this milk for magical purposes. Because of these beliefs, some caregivers would try to squeeze or “milk” the baby’s breasts to remove the fluid. Over time, doctors observed that such practices often caused inflammation, infections, and abscesses, and by the 19th century medical professionals began strongly discouraging the practice.
Neonatal galactorrhea can occur in both male and female babies and is generally more common in full-term infants, as premature babies tend to have less developed breast tissue. In most cases, the condition is harmless and resolves on its own as maternal hormones leave the baby’s body, usually within a few weeks to around two months after birth. Medical experts advise that the swollen area should not be squeezed or pressed, as this can increase the risk of irritation or infection.
Is it necessary to squeeze or 'milk' breast swelling in babies?
In most cases, no treatment is required for breast swelling or milky discharge in newborns. Doctors note that the condition is usually temporary and resolves on its own as maternal hormones gradually leave the baby’s body. They advise parents to avoid squeezing or manipulating the breast area, as this can irritate the tissue and increase the risk of infection.
Parents may also worry if they notice bloody discharge, but experts say this is extremely rare in infants and is more commonly linked to irritation or stimulation of the breast tissue rather than a serious condition. Medical consultation is recommended if the discharge continues beyond two months, or if the breast becomes red, tender, or painful, which could indicate infection.
Scientific studies have also examined complications associated with squeezing newborn breast swelling. A 2021 descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Malda Medical College and Hospital analysed 352 mothers who brought their sick newborns after the babies’ breasts had been squeezed. Researchers interviewed the mothers using pre-designed questionnaires and analysed the data using SPSS.
The study found that the practice often occurred very early in life. Squeezing of neonatal breasts was usually done on the 10th day of life (40.34%) and the 4th day of life (27.27%), and many families also applied traditional remedies such as hot turmeric paste (31.25%) or mustard oil (27.56%) after squeezing. The consequences were serious in several cases: 39.49% of newborns developed mastitis (breast infection), 15.91% developed breast abscess, and 35.51% developed sepsis.
The authors concluded that “this study highlights the harmful aspects of traditional practice of breasts-squeezing among newborns prevalent in rural Bengal,” adding that the practice “must be condemned by everyone through an integrated approach of proper health education and counseling of mothers and family members.”
Another retrospective study examining mastitis and breast abscess in newborns aged two months or younger also highlighted the risks associated with manipulating the breast tissue. The researchers reviewed 34 cases recorded between January 2017 and December 2019, with the babies having a mean age of 16.3 days at presentation.
The study found that 79.4% of the infants had undergone breast massage by parents before medical consultation. Among these cases, 12 were diagnosed with mastitis and 21 with breast abscess, and 26 required surgical treatment.
As the researchers noted, “the manipulation of the breasts to evacuate the ‘witch's milk’ would favour this contamination,” and “massage of the newborn's breasts is a potential risk factor for mastitis and abscess formation.” If untreated, the infection can progress and lead to complications such as abscess formation or, in rare cases, sepsis.
The study emphasised that neonatal breast mastitis and abscess should not be confused with normal physiological breast enlargement, which usually resolves on its own. It concluded that awareness is essential to discourage handling or squeezing the breasts of newborns with swelling or milk discharge.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS
