Help .... I've been expressing blood :(

[westy]

Hi ladies,

I have been breastfeeding my little one for almost 4 months now ...yay!!! and i have always had issues with my left breast, it more often then not hurts and is hot and just not the same as the right breast

Anyway yesterday afternoon i went off to express like i always do and what i saw frightened the living pants outta me....the breast pump was chock a block full of blood, it wasn't working properly because there was to much congeled(sp?) blood in there. I paniced- well who wouldn't when they have large amounts of blood coming out of there breasts so i rang the Dr's got seen straight away and was told i have mastitis and needed to go onto antibiotics and i also needed to get rid of this blood so i came home and expressed again in total i got 160mls of blood, nothing else just straight blood so they sent some of the blood away for testing. I am worried has anyone else ever had this issue and if so how long did it last ? Oh and did you also have severe stomach cramping?

Sorry if this is all over the place i'm still worried about this so any info would be greatly appreciated.

Obviously i am not feeding bubby from this breast at the moment, i'm just expressing and hoping for the best.

[onthefly]

I don't know that blood would be a sign of mastitis - do you have a sore red lump or any flu-like symptoms?
I would think it's a problem with your nipples, but that's a lot of blood. Have you called the ABA? They can give you good advice on how to manage this I guess.
Is the other side ok? If it is probably best to feed on that side and give the bleeding one a break.

[westy]

marcellus, i haven't had flu like symptoms as such but i woke yesterday morning with major cramping in my stomach just under my bra line i couldn't laugh or move to fats without it hurting...i know my stomach has nothing to do with my breast's but seems strange that it's come on the same day that the bleeding has come. I haven't called the ABA either thought i'd come here first. The other side is fine thank goodness.

Thanks so much for the reply and hug.

[Jennifer13]

I've never heard of this (not if you don't have damaged nipples, etc). Do you have the flu-like symptoms of mastitis? The heat you speak of could be mastitis. Has the bb been this way for long?

I'm glad you had the blood taken and analysed. I hope it comes back quickly for you.

[HotI]

Hope you feel better soon.

[Nelle]

Oh how alarming! I hope everything's better soon.
I wonder if theoretically it's possible for capillaries to bleed into milk ducts... But I'm no doctor, or nurse, or lactation expert, just some random person wondering out loud...

[Calluna]

Oh wow Westy, that sounds really scary, I hope everythings ok and you get some answers really soon

[~Minny~]

Eeeeep! I could only imagine how scary that would have been! Fingers crossed its nothing to sinister and it disapears really soon
xoxo

[MantaRay]

That must have been very scary for you Luckily blood in breastmilk is very common and is not a sign of a problem - it is also fine for your baby if they drink some blood.

There are three main causes (other than bleeding nipples) - rusty pipe syndrome, which is usually common in the early weeks with a new baby and is related to the developing bresat tissue, broken capillarires usually from a bump to your breast or other rough handling, or the one that sounds like what might be going on with you is one or more benign tumour in the milk ducts (I know that sounds bad with the word tumour, but these are benign so no need to worry). It will stop by itself in time and there is no need for treatment (but consulting your GP was a good idea to put your mind at rest). These tumours can be painful but not necessarily and you won't be able to feel any lumps from them. Notice that mastitis is not a cause of blood in breastmilk!

I hope it stops soon for you hun, I know seeing blood is never nice!

[Jennifer13]

Glad to hear it's all better. You must be relieved.