Help! Left breast producing blood not milk. 2 day old DS

[GracieGirl]

Hello! Sorry if none of this makes sense, I only gave birth 2 days ago and my brain doesn't work yet! I really need some advice.

Brief history- I BF my DD till 17 months when I got pregnant again. She only fed from right side for first 3 weeks and completely right side from 4 months onwards. Right side is a normal nipple, left is flat. Endless midwives tried to get her to use left side but we never really sorted it, and were completely happy being lopsided in the end.

DS was born 2 days ago (2 weeks early but weighing 8lb) and seemed so much easier than DD to breast feed. He fed happily from both sides within an hour of being born and I was discharged from hospital when he was 6 hours old.
By yesterday both nipples were a bit cracked and sore. Today right nipple improved but left nipple was agony throughout the whole feed. After a feed from left side at lunchtime today he fell asleep and I put him down in Moses basket. My left nipple looked well and truly chomped on and bleeding. I used lansinoh on it and waited for community midwife visit to discuss it. About 45 mins later DS vomited fresh red blood all over himself. I don't need to describe the panic and mayhem that went on next but the midwifery support worker arrived shortly after and it was eventually concluded that the blood was mine and that he was fine. I have been told to feed from right side only.

Any how, he's feeding fine from right side and is weeing and pooing normally. He does have a habit of losing his latch halfway thru a feed and chomping on the nipple and I'm taking him off at that point.

I need to know what to do with the left side. Hand expression produces blood, with milk coming from just the duct at the bottom. This evening my nipple is just a big scab. Can still get colostrum from lower duct. Left breast feels very full.

If I express from left side for a few days and discard the milk/blood, will it heal and will I be able to teach him to feed properly from flat left nipple in a few days? He was keen to try even if obviously not doing it right.

Poor you, that sounds horrible. I don't know about the blood stuff, but I do know you can feed successfully from a flat nipple. Good luck.

Ouchy, poor you!

I'm not sure why they told you to stop feeding from that side? AFAIK you can still feed from that side if you want to and certainly I continued to BF DD when there was blood in her sick from my nipples, I am sure because I had read on here that even though it seems disgusting it would do her no harm.

Moist wound healing will prevent a scab forming and should help stop/minimize the bleeding. So lots of lanisoh and a breast pad (do change breast pads fairly often) No air drying as this will form scabs. You can use warm water to soak the scabs off initially if you like.

If you can get the positioning/attachment sorted out then you will heal whilst continuing to feed. Can you get some RL help? Someone experienced to watch a whole feed? Biological nurturing can sometimes help in your situation, especially if your son is keen. It's terrifying to let your baby latch themselves on when you're sore, but I found this the least painful way to feed when I was in agony. Everyone is different of course.

If you can't bear to feed then expressing is probably the next best option. But I think it would be really good for you to get some good, RL help.

Thank you midori and FSG. I think the reason I was told to stop feeding from that side is the vomit wasn't blood stained but in fact just blood. I understand how he needs feeding at 2 days old not filling with blood. I don't want the little mite to go hungry!

Also it's that sore I just can't tell if the latch is right at all. I can't tell whether he's doing more damage or not.

My left nipple has no skin on it at all now.

How long would it take it heal or at least stop bleeding so much?

The NCT would send someone out to watch a feed wouldn't they?

I planned to hand express from left every time he feeds from the right and for roughly the same amount of time. Will that keep supply going and stop mastitis?

When should I try him on the left again? I must admit, im not that keen to try alone until someone can help me latch him correctly.

Ouch again! Just to add that nipple shields were a life saver for me (particularly for my rubbish flat nipple - it gave a better shape to latch on to - and to take away the worst pain of the latching on bit of the feed). Some people advise against them, but they may be worth a try to give a bit of protection while you heal.

And bumping this in case there are any proper BF experts around

I stopped feeding and expressed and bottlefed when my LO was five days old, and I think it took about 3-4 days to heal fully. I'm sure I read that for some reason (and I can't remember what!) you shouldn't use Lanisoh. What really helped was breast shells which lifted clothing away from the nipple and gave it room to heal. Some pumps can still cause damage but I had a Medela lactaline which was good (NCT hire out these or similar). Am sure hand expressing will be good too.

Has he been checked for a posterior tongue tie? Have a look at this article. I know you have said you have other problems but its worth checking as you have damage on both sides. Also, even if its been checked already it needs to be ruled out as its easily missed.

The people at Milk Matters can refer you to a lactation consultant in your area if needed, but definitely try the NCT first.

This is KellyMom on nipple trauma - I also used salt baths.

I had ongoing pain and fed mostly from the right, we now do about 80% of feedings from the right and its been fine for us.

Hope things improve and you get some help, the pain can be awful.

Morning! Thanks for the advice Thisisyoursong. My left breast is sooo full this morning!!! Ouch ouch! I'm rubbish at hand expressing, I can only get a few drops out. I tried my medella swing pump which was pretty good last time but nothing comes out. I think I'm struggling to be calm about it which doesn't help.

I will phone NCT once it's daytime. Not heard of Milk Matters, will google it. I imagine with it being a long bank holiday weekend I'll struggle for help till Tuesday, but I will phone and see.

PS- my irritating in laws are doing my head in!!!!!! I want everyone to go away until we're feeding better.

Off to read the links in Thisisyoursong's reply.....

I was useless at hand expressing too, but when I got mastitis I just had to do it - and found out that I wasn't so bad at it. My best position was sitting on the floor with a bowl in front of me! But it is hard and painful to do when your breasts are engorged and hard. This is a good site which has videos of two techniques.

Also sorry, Milk Matters is here.

Gracie - your midwife will prob come and see you again if you ask.....this is the best sort of support for you, with a very new baby like this and a need for observation.

No - the NCT will not 'send someone round', sorry :( NCT breastfeeding counsellors are volunteers and decide for themselves when they can visit, and you might find it hard to get someone to take time away from their own family over a holiday weekend. There are very few of us, too - we are not everywhere in the country either :)

You will be able to get phone support on the breastfeeding line 0300 330 0700 and that number is open all over the holiday. Hope you get good help soon.

Tiktok, thank you. I phoned the helpline today and the lady who answered was fantastic!! Gave me lots of ideas to help with expressing over next 24 hours and a few different positions to try after that to get him started on the left side. She said to phone her back when I'm attempting feeding again so she can give me more help.

I also phoned the midwife and someone is coming out tomorrow.

DS is sleeping, blissfully unaware of the stress he's putting his mummy through!