To think pregnant women should be made aware of this?!

[mum2Bomg]

I'm putting this here for awareness more than anything else.

I've just been told (warned) about something by a friend. I told her I was having a little girl as we found out at the scan. She's now told me that some newborn baby girls can have bleeding similar to a period.

Why does no one tell you these things? I would have absolutely freaked out and run to he hospital if I hadn't known!

Is this common knowledge? I used to work in childcare and no one has ever mentioned this.

[Butteredparsnips]

plimsolls you could be right about the AIBU. OP my apologies. I thought you were whining that no-one told you. If you were just trying to raise awareness then fair enough.

[Porcupinetree]

I did know this however was under the impression it was rare. It didn't happen to my DD.

However I wouldn't assume everyone knew because I've known some pregnant women who didn't know that they would bleed after birth.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I've never heard of it. I only have boys and did read about the potential scrotal swelling but never this. I read that NHS book cover to cover more than once as well.

[mum2Bomg]

Absolutely not whining - just surprised this happens!

[nennyrainbow]

I think it's fairly unusual. Have had 2 DDs and it didn't happen. DS1 however had some orange staining in his nappy soon after birth which a midwife informed me was nothing to worry about as it was urates in the wee.
I think they don't want to overload new mums with too much information if it's not important/ common.

[AntiHop]

I learnt this at antenatal class and and that they have a little bit of milk come out if their nipple. Both happpened to my dd.

[OutOfAces]

I had a baby 4 months ago and I was told in my antenatal class. Actually they made it sound common and like it probably would happen.

I also heard a midwife telling another mum on my ward not to be surprised if it happened to her DD.

And my health visitor told me, even though I have a DS.

[MrsDoylesTeaParty]

I was reading every night.. Books, babycentre emails, forums and never came across this. As many other people on the thread didn't.. So thankyou OP for sharing! Ignore the snotty know-it-alls. This is a place for sharing information in a supportive space.

[Mari50]

I knew this/ but I'd forgotten I knew until I read this thread!!

[Sleepybeanbump]

I knew that. Covered in NCT and baby books.

Tbh there's a lot about pregnancy and young babies that isn't 'common knowledge' unless you do a bit of reading. One needs to do a certain amount of homework.

[Viviene]

I'm non-UK and it is a common knowledge in my country. No idea how I found out - it's just one of those obvious things you don't think about. It's because mother's hormones affect the girl :-)
(Not trying to be patronizing, btw, I think it should be known).

[SeenYourArse]

My mum told me I had this as a newborn and it is because of the mums hormones before and as they are born. My now 5 week old son also had swollen nipple buds when he was newborn again due to my hormones.

[Propertyquandry]

I'm more stunned that you don't seem aware of GBS! info on this is all over the Internet. I think I learned about the bleeding and the lactating from my NCT class. The bleeding is rare and both baby boys and baby girls can lactate and/or have swollen breasts. No midwife or HV ever mentioned it and I knew I was pregnant with a daughter.

[thecatsarecrazy]

My ds started lactating and one of his nipples became infected. Wasn't aware that could happen either.

[happy2bhomely]

I had my first baby 15 years ago, at the age of 17, and I knew this from reading books at the library and then asking my midwife about what I had read.

At 17 I knew it was sensible to do a bit of 'homework' on what to expect when looking after a newborn for the first time. It helped a lot, but it didn't stop every HCP talking to me like a piece of thick shit though!

I think parents should be encouraged to research and prepare as thoroughly as possible when expecting a new baby.

[Propertyquandry]

It never fails to amaze me that so many people go into parenthood without thoroughly researching every aspect of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood.

Would you emigrate without research? Would you take on a new job knowing nothing of the terms and conditions?

Yet people seem to embark on the monumentally life changing act of procreation without giving it any real thought or research time.

[Nanunanu]

Really property. Nothing surprised you?

What a boring way to live your life

[monkeydoesmonkeydo]

I've got three girls two nieces and did not know this!

[LittleLionMansMummy]

I had never heard of this until my niece was born and it happened to her. My sister was aware because it was covered at nct. It wasn't covered at my classes though and I'd be none the wiser if my sister hadn't told me.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Never heard of this before. Thanks OP for the education!

[CountessOfStrathearn]

I knew from NCT classes, but also the midwives here give out the NCT leaflet that warns of this so I think everyone here at least is told.

Here's the leaflet:

www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/What's%20in%20a%20nappy%20(ENGLISH%20VERSION)%20FINAL%20WITHOUT%20BLEED.pdf

[Propertyquandry]

Not sure what you mean, Nanu?

Of course things about parenthood have surprised me. The love for a start. The extent of the worry for another. But not the stuff that I could easily research.
And I do think people put more research into buying a car or a house than they do having a baby. Not the op necessarily but I read it on here all the time.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

Covered in NCT though I mustn't have been listening because it was DH who told me and we were both there. There wasn't much blood - barely a few specks.

[Stillwishihadabs]

I think it's one of those things ( like how to breast feed) which was common knowledge when people had more babies and lived in extended family groups. My mum mentioned it to me in passing aged about 12 whilst I was changing a female cousin's nappy.

[Vinorosso74]

I can't remember who told me. It was eithet hospital antenatal class or a midwife after DD was born. My DD had a little bit.
I remember being told not to squeeze the nipple area if it was swollen too. It would never gave crossed my mind to do that to a newborn baby!!