Blood on DS's face after feeding... can anyone help?

[breakfastinbed]

Really need someone to suggest what might be going on and, hopefully, to reassure me:
I have BFed DS2 for ten months and had almost continual problems including bleeding cracked nipples, multiple bouts of mastitis, thrush and several other infections. I am not a hardcore BF fanatic nor a martyr to motherhood (or maybe a bit on that one actually...), but i know from DS1 how lovely BFing can be and i wanted to experience that once more before giving up.

Latest antibiotics seem finally to have worked and i am BFing without pain for first time in months. But now i see that there is lots of blood coming out with the milk from one breast. I've had several bouts of bleeding from cracked skin before, but this is different: seems to be internal as there is no sign of an external wound. Is this normal(ish)? DO I NEED TO WORRY?

Don't want to go back to (very lovely) GP as she has made it clear that she thinks i am mad for persevering all this time. -So i am relying on MNs for help .

(Sorry for huge post.)

Well done you for keeping going - none of the things you mention are any fun and it's no mean feat imo to keep going through it . I'm not sure what to suggest, my first guess would be that you still have some infection somewhere but as your anti-b's have kicked in hard to know - I had mastitus with dd and even as it was clearing she would still have a lot of blood in any possets - like you no sign of outside wound so def coming internally somewhere. I would honestly go back to your GP because despite her opinion she still has a duty to help you with this and sounds like she's approachable enough to get over her own views and support you. Wishing you all the best and hope someone comes along with a better answer soon.

bumping for breakfastinbed

Thanks so much Twiga. Don't like to talk to those around me as I'm sure they share GP's (possibly v sensible) view. -So it's lovely to hear your friendly voice. I guess i'll steel myself and take your advice.

No ideas but if you are determined to continue could you contact La Leche League or NCT for advice from a BFing counsellor?

You need Tiktok on this one.

Is Tiktok a MNer?

yes, tiktok is the bfeeding queen on mumsnet!

doing a few google searches, it looks like this is relatively common. but more usual for 1st time mums with younger babies. It looks like it can be caused by increased blood flow to the breast or by harmless benign lumps in your milkducts, which usually dissappear on their own. However, I couldn't find info on it on any of the websites I KNOW are accurate, so that info was from websites I avn't checked out thoroughly as being reliable. If you are worried, it probably is worth seeing the GP or a breastfeeding counsellor... just to put your mind at rest. Swallowing some of your blood will not do your baby any harm whatsoever - after all it wasn't that long ago you were sharing a blood supply anyway!

Just giving this another bump for you and hope that Tiktok or one of the others who are great on this topic see it soon. Hope you're doing ok today .

breakfast, can understand this is worrying for you.

It's fine to call a breastfeeding counsellor, but I can be pretty sure she will suggest you get medical advice on this one. It's not something we could handle.

Bleeding from one breast can be normal, and relate to a burst blood vessel, or infection, but you need to see the doctor - she should keep her feelings about your bf to herself

Thanks so much lovely MNs. -Don't know what i'd do without you .

Thanks for the reassurances Sushistar, v. v. kind of you to look it up. (Although I take your point about reliability of websites.)

Thanks for the bumps Twiga. -I must admit i don't quite know what a bump is or how it works, but obviously it does work as you managed to summon the BF Queen!

And thank you Tiktok. To her credit, I think the GP was probably feeling sympathetic and just trying to make me feel ok about giving up. Even i feel it's a bit weird to have carried on this long as i've had such bad luck with it, but you know how it is with BFing: all kinds of emotions feed into it. Just something i need to do.

DS looked like a blood-gorged vampire after bedtime feed just now... Definately will phone doc in the morning.

Let us know how you go. Know what you mean about the whole bfing thing being emotional, I loved feeding my two despite the mastitus first time round with dd and ds being a biter second time round (what a relief when he stopped that!). Expecting number 3 in Dec and really looking fwd to feeding again. Oh and bumping just means that by posting the thread goes back up the recent convos list and is hopefully seen.

Oh i see!

Exciting to have number three on the way. -How are you feeling? I hope you're getting some feet-up time.

I guess it is partly because i know i won't have a third child that it is so important to have a good last experience of BFing with this one... Don't want to find myself feeling broody in a couple of years just bc i fancy BFing again.

Feeling not too bad, thanks for asking, a little sore as I always end up with spd but have an excellent physio this time so hoping to avoid crutches. Getting a bit of rest but easier said than done with a 3 year old and a 15 month old. I suspect I may be a little more anxious about feeding this time as although we haven't discounted number 4 we haven't decided for definate either so always the chance that this is the last one.

Hope you got through to the GP today and the appt not to far off.

Twiga, I doubt you are still on this thread as it sounds as though you have a hell of a lot on your plate. Sorry for delay in posting (poorly kids, DP away, etc). Thought i'd answer just in case you're still here.

Saw a different, but again lovely and savvy, doc. She was a little horrified by what she saw. Gave me a new med and an ultimatum: If not completely cured in a week, i have to give up BF...

She also made a good point: With the decision not to have another child will come an inevitable grieving period. No amount of happy breastfeeding will protect me from this yearning and grieving. -So that's not a good enough reason for doing what i'm doing.

I really hope your physio does the trick and that all goes well for you.

Hey there, glad to hear you had a sympathetic ear at the GPs. I can totally see her point but ultimately it's still your decision so whatever you end up doing make sure it's right for you. Good to hear that they're trying you on diff meds, sounds like you've been through so much and things can be resistant to or just need an alternative med depending so I really hope it makes a difference. Whatever the outcome you sound like a fab mum and hats off for sticking in there, all the very best .

Twiga

(BTW, no blood today!! Hooray!!)

Fab news !