The Mammary Souffle of Pregnancy and Lactation

Two hundred and fifty-seven consecutive South African Bantu women were examined during pregnancy and the puerperium in order to determine the incidence of the mammary souffle. It was found in 15.3 per cent of women examined in the postpartum period, 13.3 per cent in the third trimester of pregnancy, 17.9 per cent in the second trimester, and in none before the twelfth week of pregnancy. The phonocardiographic features of the murmur are illustrated and evidence is presented to indicate that the murmur is arterial in origin. It is suggested that the murmur may arise at the site of anastomosis between branches of the aortic intercostal arteries and branches of the internal mammary artery.