Infant Breast Buds

When newborns have breast buds, real, mature breast tissue forms, creating firm lumps under the nipples. Some babies even leak some real milk from their breasts.

What are infant breast buds and should you worry if your baby has them?

Dr. Greene’s Answer:

Just before a child is born, a burst of the mother’s hormones is passed to them. This is one of the finishing touches preparing their lungs to breathe air when they are born. These hormones include estrogen and androgens, and can have several transient side effects, which can sometimes include infant breast buds.

Some little girls may have a cloudy white vaginal discharge, or even a mini-period – with blood appearing at the vagina during the first week as estrogen levels fall rapidly. Both boys and girls may develop newborn acne, between about 3 to 4 weeks of age.

When newborns have breast buds, real, mature breast tissue forms, creating firm lumps under the nipples. Some babies even leak some real milk from their breasts. This is colorfully named witch’s milk, a term which captures the magic of the situation, but inappropriately attributes sinister and supernatural overtones to this natural wonder. Breast buds commonly occur in children of both sexes. A study published in Pediatr Radiol showed that there is a wide variance in the size of normal breast budding in infants.

Breast buds disappear gradually, usually over the first several months of life, as the hormones and their effects vanish. Unless the breasts become red, hard, or warm (indicating possible mastitis, or breast infection), breast buds are nothing to worry about.

References and Resources:

Kaplan SL, et al. Size of testes, ovaries, uterus and breast buds by ultrasound in healthy full-term neonates ages 0-3 days. Pediatr Radiol. 2016 Dec;46(13):1837-1847.

Restrepo R, et al. Breast development in pediatric patients from birth to puberty: physiology, pathology and imaging correlation. Pediatr Radiol. 2021 Oct;51(11):1959-1969.

Medical review by: Laura Webb, Alan Greene
Last medical review: April 04, 2023
Updated: April 14, 2023

Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.

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11 Comments

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  1. Peter

    Hi Dr Greene,
    my daughter had a breast bud when she was a baby. It seems to have been a very normal example of a breast bud given your explanation (thank you). We took her to a doctor at the time who mentioned that it could cause abnormal breast development at puberty. This seemed so far away at the time. However my daughter is now ten, and this is now causing me some anxiety. Please could you tell me more about the links between breast buds and abnormal breast development? I’d much rather take information from you than google!

    Many thanks,

    Peter

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  2. Dana

    Hi my 1 month daughter has a larger than marble size lump in her breast. Is that still related to hormones. It has significantly decrease in size. And she doesn’t have any pain. I’m worried!

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    • Lynx

      Hi my baby is 1 year old and 3months is it normal that her breast in left side is bigger than the other side?thank you

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  3. Shade

    Hi,
    When my daughter was 1 month old her breast had become swollen and reddish, when we showed to doctor,he did like surgery and removed the pus from the breast…Will her breast grow like normal?

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  4. Millissa espitia

    My baby boy is 3 weeks and has breast milk coming out of his right nipple should I be concerned

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  5. Martha

    Hello- my daughter is 15 months and has one bud, the areola is also different color (slightly purplish?) Her pediatrician didn’t think it’s anything to worry about and advised to watch for any discharge. Should I look for a second opinion? TU

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  6. BIJAYA KUMAR

    My baby is 11 months old and both of breasts have breast buds, what to do plz tell ?

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    • Martin

      It can be normal yes however book an appointment with your GP who will refer your child to a peadritian as when the breast buds occur for a longer period of time, the situation falls between medical and surgical outcomes.

      Nothing decided until your gild is assessed by the peadritian consultant. Most cases of many, the breast bud gradually go by themselves.

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  7. Eldz

    My daughter is already 15 months old and she still has this so-called breast buds on both breast. As a mother I am so worried about this. Is it still normal for her to have this? Just today, her pediatrician advised me to consult for a pediatric endocrinologist. Your reply is highly appreciated.

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    • S. Polk

      Hi. My daughter is 2 and still has the lumps in her breasts. Her pediatrician referred her to one as well. Can you tell me what did the endocrinologist do/say?

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  8. María

    My baby is 5 1/2 months old and still has them. Is this normal? She doesn’t seem bothered by them and the nipples look normal.

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