Chanita,
I heard of a milk-drinking snake story from rural Venezuela.  (I sent a
letter to JHL about it but am too lazy to go look up the reference for you.)

The snake is supposed to suck the milk from mom's breasts, while putting its
own tail tip into the baby's mouth to keep the baby quiet.  One way I
interpret this story is as evidence that mom and baby are sleeping near each
other---no more than a snake's length apart!

Chris