Should the newborn's nipples be squeezed?

For newborns, if there are elderly people in the family who like to squeeze the baby's nipples not long after birth, this is actually completely unscientific and can easily cause some unnecessary reactions in the baby, even infection, nipple twisting, etc. The enlargement of the newborn's nipples is a normal physiological phenomenon, which will gradually improve as the child grows and develops.

1. Breast enlargement is a unique physiological phenomenon in the neonatal period

The reason for newborn breast enlargement and lactation is that the fetus receives the corresponding hormones given by the mother through the placenta before birth. For example, progesterone obtained from the mother can stimulate the enlargement and fullness of the newborn's breasts; prolactin can promote lactation in the newborn's breasts. When a woman is pregnant, the estrogen level rises, and the estrogen level in the fetus also rises accordingly, and progesterone is suppressed; as the umbilical cord is cut, the estrogen obtained by the newborn from the mother's body gradually decreases, and the effect of progesterone on the newborn's body weakens, which will cause breast enlargement and lactation in the newborn.

Therefore, breast enlargement and lactation in newborns are temporary physiological phenomena. Parents do not need to take any treatment, especially do not apply hot compresses, massage, or squeeze. The breast enlargement and lactation will disappear naturally after 2-3 weeks, and in rare cases they will last for more than 1 month.

2. Squeezing a newborn’s nipple is a very dangerous practice

Squeezing the nipples of newborns is an extremely wrong habit that has no scientific basis. Not only will it not be beneficial to the development of the baby's nipples, on the contrary, it may damage the breast function or cause nipple distortion.

At the same time, it is a very dangerous practice. Local squeezing can easily cause skin damage, which not only brings unnecessary pain to the newborn, but also allows bacteria on the skin surface to take advantage of the opportunity to enter, causing redness, swelling, heat and pain in the newborn's breasts, and possibly mastitis. However, newborns have relatively poor resistance, which may cause the bacteria to spread throughout the body, leading to sepsis and endangering the life of the newborn.