Weird - does this happen to anyone else?

[PrettyCandles]

When I hand-express from one breast milk often comes out of the areola before it comes out of the nipple. Only fat drops, not a spray, and it's always the whiter hindmilk, not the translucent foremilk, no matter what comes out of the nipple.

What's going on?

Yes, I have noticed one tiny drop that appears on my left areola when feeding ds2. He is my third, but never noticed it before

Are we the only milk-strainers on MN, then?

Me too

Any idea how come?

me too! have no idea why. is an interesting sprinkler type of effect

No idea - must have more holes than I thought

Another thing that They don't tell you about in the books!

I've had this and thought I was springing leaks! MW told me it's not milk, it's some sort of lubricant the nipples produce to moisturise themselves.

Oh are they not somebody or others tubicles or something? I will see if I can find a link or some more info

Look here - third paragrpah down
Is that it?

You may be right, Mawbroon. I assumed it was milk - it looks just like hindmilk - but I've just expressed a drop and tasted it: it's tasteless, unlike breastmilk which is sweet. Wouldn't consider it 'oily' though.

I wonder whether it's significant that this only happens on the boob on which I can't quite get the latch right, so is permanently sore. Is my body trying to protect itself here?

I have heard of people having this anywhere on the breast and just below. I believe although don't wuote me that it can happen anywhere on the ind of erm how to describe it...milk line where the ducts kind of start and come together if that makes any sense at all.