My breast milk is suddenly about 95% blood!!!

[mrsthommo]

My DD is 16wks and has been BF since birth (apart from the occasional formula bottle). She went through some really bad colic in the first few weeks (before I discovered Infacol) and whilst feeding she writhed her head about and took a chunk of my nipple with it. She puked up some blood immediately afterwards, and some more dried blood a couple of hours later. I spoke to my GP who confirmed all fine and said it happens sometimes (had happened to her, also).

I continued to feed from both breasts (although in incredible pain) and DD continued to puke up a little blood after each feed. After approx 2 weeks everything healed up and there was no more blood (hoorah!)

The pain in my breast returned with a vengeance over the past few days so I decided to switch to formula (but still BF through the night). This was working well but at 3am feed this morning my DD had blood around her mouth after the feed and puked up lots of blood complete with a blood clot.

I took her to GP who confirmed all fine and agreed my decision to switch to formula feeding only was probably wise. (The GP didn't check my breast).

I've just expressed some breast milk (to alleviate the pain of them being fit to burst) and it appears to be almost pure blood (I expressed about 3oz before being physically sick at the sight of it and stopping).

I never had this much blood the first time (a tiny bleed on the nipple and a tiny pink tinge to the first few drops of milk) but this time blood appears to be all I'm getting. Bizarrely, it doesn't hurt anywhere near as much this time as it did the last time it happened. I was very surprised to see blood there at all!!

My DD has just passed lots of tar like stools (like the ones she passed in her first few days) but other than that she seems fine. I also feel ok (other than a terrible feeling of guilt about the fact I've fed my DD the diet of a little vampire). Any ideas on what's wrong with me???!!!

i am shocked that your GP just said all was fine and to switch to formula!

masses of blood is coming out of your breast and all they can say is "yeah, formula feed"

i really have no idea about the blood, but i have to admit it would concern me if there is no visible wound and appears to be coming from inside

is the other breast ok? if so you can continue to feed from one side only if you'd like to breastfeed for longer.

i would get a seconed opinion from a different GP, and also talk to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor to see if they can shed any light

I'm concerned that your GP seemed fit to agree that your LO should go on formula without doing any sort of examination to find out the root cause of the problem I think you need to go back to the GP, personally. My first instinct/thought is an abscess, which stopping feeding would make worse & not better AFAIK! Still, I'm sure tiktok or another more experienced BFer will be along shortly with more advice.

I also think that you need to go back to the GP first thing and ask for an examination.

Is there a local bfing counsellor you could ring?

Um quite apart from the formula thing YOU need a doctor don't you? I really don't think that that amount of blood is very normal at all.

A bit here and there mixed in with milk is no biggy but not that much. Get a new GP!

What a shame your GP thought the only response to this should be to switch to formula. I don't know what this could be and any bfc would say 'go and get this checked out', I am pretty sure.

The tar like stools are prob the result of swallowing blood, but the reason for blood could be (I agree with jem) could be abscess. It could be 'rusty pipe syndrome' (google it) which is the result of broken capillaries (but it makes milk pink, rather than causing frank bleeding). Other than that, I don't know - maybe you could see another GP??

I hope it gets sorted. Maybe this is something that means a switch to formula, but maybe it isn't.

Thanks, I'll definitely go back to the GP tomorrow. In his defence, he didn't know I was bleeding such a large amount (neither did I, until I expressed when I got home).

My other breast is bleeding too, but only a very small amount. I thought it was due to a sudden increase in feeding taking it's toll on my nipples (I posted on here last week about my HV being concerned about DD's weight and recommending extra feeds in addition to the 8 feeds a day I was doing).

i am pretty sure it wouldn't be caused by an increase in feeding...

I hope you get some answers tomorrow, don't be fobbed off
in fact, if you happen to have an NHS walk-in centre nearby it might be worth going there instead? ours is usually really helpful

I had something similar to this. My DS vomited when he was two days old and it was just frank blood. Very shocking and it was everywhere! Also, when I expressed it was very pink. Having said all that, DS had a rubbish latch and my nipples were incredibly sore. We put it down to a tiny split in my nipple which just happened to be over a capillary so that when he was feeding he was just getting loads of blood (poor thing).
You definitely need to go back to the GP though.
Good luck

hmm a quick google suggests that rough handling, particularly while pumping can cause broken capillaries which would release blood

obviously i still think you should go to a doctor asap, but something worth mentioning to them perhaps? what kind of breastpump do you have? my electric one was fairly harsh on its highest setting

someone with a similar problem here related to pumping too

Yes Bristols - this is what happened to me the first time (a pink tinge to the milk). The milk i've expressed tonight is red!! there didn't appear to be a hint of milk in it, so I'm not feeding it to DD.

Thisisyesterday - my breast pump is a tommy tippee hand pump so doesn't seem that harsh. It's not just breast pumping which is causing bleeding, though. I never use the pump, only used it today to relieve the engorgement. I noticed the blood around DD's mouth when I fed her earlier. She looked like a little vampire

I had no idea how much blood she'd been swallowing until I breast pumped and saw for myself. Still feeling a bit iffy after the sight of it!

There are also small bits of tissue (like clots) in the breast milk I've expressed. My breast isn't anywhere near as sore as it has been in the past so I've no idea where this is coming from

you poor darling! Hope you get this sorted out soon.

Must have been such a shock for you . Please do see the doctor again. The same thing happened to me (taking out a chunk of nipple) and it hurt like crazy, makes me feel dizzy just thinking about it. Things went back to normal after a few days though. I think what you describe sounds like you need to see a doc soon.

Blimey, you poor thing. If it was me I'd be tempted to be off to the out of hours doctor straight away. I've no idea what it could be.

I know this sounds icky, but could you keep the expressed milk/blood to show the GP, in case they think you are exaggerating because it doesn't take much blood to turn milk red, but in this instance it sounds much more significant than that.

Yes, you really should do as pebblejones suggests.

yes, i've kept it!! i'm also going to express some more in the morning to see if anything has improved and take both samples along with me.

Good. Let us know how you get on OP.

thanks, will do

Hi
I haven't had time to read the other replies, but this happened to me when ds was 10 months old.Blood was coming from inside, and he was having very black poo (the blood).

GP said it was fine to carry on bfing if I wanted to (so I did), and sent me for a scan.
The could not find anything, but wanted to make sure it was nothing serious - 'twas scary actually.

I would ask for a scan, mine went by itself after a month or so.
Sorry I cant be more help, but my gp was concerned enough to send me for scan, so try and push for the same, to put your mind at rest, if nothing else!

Thanks, tummy tickler!! Relieved to know I'm not alone!! My GP isn't too concerned at the moment but has asked me to go back after the weekend if the bleeding is still there. He doesn't believe there is any infection as apart from engorgement (as I've decided to stop BF) there is no pain.

Well done for continuing BF during this!! I really can't face it (the sight of the blood made me really sick) so have switched to formula

I really wanted to continue BF until 6mths (DD is 4mths now) but seeing the blood really put me off. I know it's harmless for DD to swallow, but my HV has already been on at me about DD's slow weight gain so knowing my DD will puke up blood (along with some milk) after each feed will only make the HV stress me out about her weight even more.