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Expert Q&A

	By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.

When I do my monthly exam on my breast I have a small amount of colostrum leaks out. I have taken two home pregnancy tests and went and had a test done at the hospital which all were negative. Could there be something to worry about or is it a sign of pregnancy? My doctor said that he couldn't find anything wrong. I would appreciate your comments on this subject. - Roberta, Norwich"

Hi, Roberta -

First of all, good for you that you do those monthly breast exams! That's so important for all of us to do. Leaking colostrum or some form of milk is not really that unusual. Do you have any children already? Some women find they can still express drops of milk months and even YEARS after their child has weaned!

Even if you have never had any children, being able to express a few drops of milk is still not all that unusual. You might want to read a section in an excellent breast health book called Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. She has an excellent discussion of nipple discharge. She says: "Most women DO have some amount of discharge when their breasts are squeezed, and it's perfectly normal. A study at Boston Lying-In Hospital breast clinic was conducted, in which women had little suction cups, like breast pumps, put on their nipples and gentle suction applied. Eighty-three percent of these women--old, young, mothers, non-mothers, previously pregnant, and never pregnant--had some amount of discharge." (p. 105 in the 1991 edition. There is a newer edition of the book.)

Dr. Love says that some drugs may make a women more prone to discharge as well, but still nothing to worry about. "The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it's spontaneous, persistent, and unilateral (only on one side). It comes out by itself without squeezing; it keeps on happening; and it's only from one nipple and usually one duct. It's either clear and sticky, like an egg white, or bloody. You should go to the doctor right away." (p. 106)

One other cause for spontaneous milk coming from BOTH breasts, along with amenorrhea (failure to get your period) is a condition called galactorrhea. This can be caused by a small tumor in the brain that is causing an increase in prolactin, the hormone that causes milk production. Often these are tiny tumors that don't require surgery.

Since the milk you are seeing is just during the self-exam squeezing, then both of the last two scenarios seem unlikely. It is good for your own peace of mind that you asked your doctor about it, though.

As for this being a possible sign of pregnancy, usually you don't see much in the way of colostrum until the last trimester.

I hope this helps!

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