Budding concern

Q: When our daughter was about five months old, we felt a lump under her left nipple. Our naturopath assured us that this was a normal breast bud. But three months later, the nipple still feels much larger and harder than the other one. Should I be worried?

A: Breast lumps are fairly common in newborns. Cysts can also develop in this tissue. Breast lumps are the breast’s response to the mother’s hormones. In the vast majority of cases, lumps disappear on their own after a few weeks. Some remain for much longer and that’s OK, as long as they don’t continue to grow. Don’t try massaging or squeezing it; it’s best left alone, regardless of the cause. If the lump becomes red or warm, it might have become infected and should be checked out by a doctor. Because you noticed this at five months and not when your daughter was a newborn, I would mention it to your doctor anyway.