HELP!! Bug problem

[Ilovemypantry]

I have been getting really itchy bites at night mainly on my upper back and arms (just me, DH not affected). They were driving me mad as they are so itchy so this morning I decided to investigate.
I lifted up the mattress on my side and on the valance underneath I found this bug 😱(photo attached). It was clearly visible to the eye and had a hard back. When I squashed it a load of blood came out (my blood!).

Can anyone identify this bug? Obviously I’m thinking bed bugs (shock, horror!) and will be spending the day fumigating the room and washing all the bedding.

Looks like a flea to me, we had them a few years back. But hopefully someone with a bit more experience in bugs can advise if it is or not. Definitely fumigate and wash everything on hot!

Unfortunately whether it is fleas or bedbugs you’ll need to do the whole house, not just the bedroom. Hope you get it sorted! Waking up with bites is never fun

I'm not sure, but it doesn't look dissimilar to a bed bug.

I would look up advice on how to deal with them. The sooner the better!

It's not a flea. Probably a bed-bug.

Doesnt look like a flea. A flea would have jumped too

That defo looks like a bed bug to me. Get treating fast. I had friends that were in denial and the infestation became out of control very quickly. Wash everything, Hoover like a beast and get the sprays/ smoke bombs. Hope you get rid of them fast. X

Thank you for your prompt replies.

I have googled (a lot!) and it was definitely a bed bug. Now to organise the full on attack to obliterate the buggers. I’ve literally been in tears this morning as it seems an almost impossible task but I know I’ve got to start somewhere.

Check whether your council will treat them too

Get a professional company in and do NOT use bug bombs, they will just disperse them everywhere and make them impossible to get rid of. They are really really hard to get rid of yourself as they are extremely hardy and get into all the cracks. Honestly, take the financial hit and get professionals in.

Get a professional company

This. I watched a program about the little fuckers. Almost impossible do it it yourself, get someone in today.

Oh no! We’ve just ordered sprays and bombs which we were going to use tomorrow.
We’ve washed all the bedding today on a hot wash then tumbled dried it for extra heat. Had the bed to pieces and given everywhere a thorough hoovering. Didn’t see any more but did find some dried blood spots...ewww 😢

Honestly the sprays and bombs will only make it worse. This is why people say they were a nightmare to get rid of etc - if they’d done it properly in the first place it would be relatively straight forward as long as not a massive infestation.

Might be an good idea to get a professional in. A friend of mine had them , brought them back in her suitcase, the bugs have never returned after the professional treatment.

Thanks all.
We’ve gone down the DIY route for now and see how things go. Sprayed everywhere in the bedroom, including underside of bed, then used a bomb.
Only time will tell if it’s worked but I’m keeping everything crossed and if it doesn’t, we’ll definitely be calling in the professionals.