In conducting a newborn health assessment, the nurse notices enlarged breasts and a milky drainage from one of the breasts. This finding is a result of:

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This finding is due to the retention of the maternal hormone estrogen. During pregnancy, estrogen levels increase in the mother's body, and some of this hormone can cross the placenta into the fetal circulation. After birth, the newborn may still have high levels of estrogen, leading to temporary conditions like enlarged breasts and, in some cases, milky nipple discharge, known as "witch's milk." This is a normal, temporary condition and usually resolves on its own as the estrogen levels decrease.

In Conducting a Newborn Health Assessment, the Nurse Notices Enlarged