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It is normal for the baby's chest to become stiff, looking like it has a lump, and for milk to flow through the nipple, both in the case of boys and girls, because the baby still has the mother's hormones responsible for the development of the mammary glands in his body.
This outflow of milk from the baby's breast, called breast swelling or physiological mamitis, is not a disease and does not happen with all babies, but eventually disappears naturally when the baby's body begins to eliminate the mother's hormones from the bloodstream. .
Why it happens
Leaking milk from the baby's breast is a normal situation that can appear up to 3 days after birth. This situation is mainly due to the fact that the baby is still under the influence of maternal hormones that are passed from mother to child during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
Thus, as a consequence of the increased concentration of maternal hormones in the baby's blood, it is possible to notice swelling of the breasts and, in some cases, the genital region. However, as the baby's body releases hormones, it is possible to notice a decrease in swelling, without the need for specific treatment.
What to do
In most cases the swelling of the baby's breasts and the milk output improve without specific treatment, however to speed up the improvement and avoid possible inflammation, it is recommended:
- Clean the baby's breast with water if the milk starts to leak from the nipples;
- Do not squeeze the baby's breast to let milk out, because in this case there may be inflammation and a greater risk of infection;
- Do not massage the site as it can also lead to inflammation.
Usually between 7 and 10 days after birth, it is possible to notice a decrease in swelling and no milk coming out of the nipple.
When to see your pediatrician
It is important to take the baby to the pediatrician when the swelling does not improve over time or when in addition to the swelling, other symptoms are noted, such as local redness, increased temperature in the region and fever above 38ºC. In these cases, the baby's chest may have become infected and the pediatrician must guide the appropriate treatment, which is usually done with antibiotics and, in the most severe cases, surgery.