Why does my baby have breasts?

Hormones: Prolactin is a hormone your body produces so you will get breast milk. The prolactin is transferred to the baby while in your womb, and then through your breast milk. The hormone causes changes in your baby similar to the changes to your body: swelling of breast tissue, breast tenderness, and even a little milk production. Even boys exhibit these changes. Rest assured, it's all normal.

Pregnancy hormones: Babies are exposed to mom's hormones during pregnancy. Some babies develop "baby breasts", which are lumps under the nipples. If one or both lumps are reddened, or tender to the touch, a doctor should examine them. Squeezing the lumps or playing with them will usually make them worse. They can be left alone, and will go away because after birth, babies are no longer getting mom's hormones.

Mom's estrogen: Your baby boy or girl got mom's estrogen across the placenta. This resulted in breast budding. Now that the placenta is no longer attached they will shrink down over the next few months. This is common.

Hormones!: The levels of circulating hormones in your baby's body after birth are really high! additionally, they might be getting an extra boost of hormones from breast-feeding as well. Never fear; those hormone levels will fall within the first few months of your baby's life, and the breast tissue will subside.