There are cases where infants and toddlers will develop breast lumps or swollen nipples. This is a normal occurrence and mostly not a serious condition. However, it is still important to brush up on breast lumps in infants so as to properly address if your baby does suffer from the condition.
The medical term of this condition is called gynecomastia or commonly known as breast buds. According to WebMD, this happens to babies when their mother has passed on some hormones through the placenta during pregnancy.
Cause Of Infant Breast Buds
The estrogen and androgens are the hormones that causes the breast buds. These are real breast tissues forming soft lumps under and around the nipples that are superficial. There are times that one nipple will have a bigger lump than the other.
This condition can also happen to male babies and toddlers. Other than the swollen appearance, the nipples may also discharge a whitish substance that looks like milk, as explained by Heidi Murkoff, B.S.N via LiveStrong. In the old times, they call it the "Witch's milk" because it's an odd thing that happens in infants.
Misconceptions About Breast Buds
Mothers are likely to be concerned and mostly interpreted as tumors but breast buds are mostly benign. These are just the side effects of estrogen and androgen in the baby's system.
Some also believe that breast buds are fat deposits in babies, but it actually isn't. This can happen anytime in the infant years and this also disappears over time.
When You Should Be Worried
If the breast bud becomes hard, red and warm, it could be signs of infant mastitis. This is a very rare case where a baby can possibly experience breast infection if not treated right away.
When babies are developing pubic hair and body odor along with breast buds, the child could be having a hormonal problems. If these signs are present, it is recommended to see your pediatrician to avoid any serious issues.
