Blood in breastmilk

This afternoon while feeding dd2 I went to reattach due to some discomfort. When she came off there was a bright red blood clot on my nipple. I was thinking she must have damaged my nipple bad, but when I cleaned it up the nipple seemed fine. I continued to feed her. After the feed she spat up a lot of blood. I rang the ob and he said the blood will have been mine and it won't harm the baby.

Due to the amount I assume I have ruptured something inside the breast?

I tried to drag out feeding from that side for a while and then when I did I tried a different position to see if that helps. I have no way of knowing if it's still bleeding though, apart from having a slight pain whilst feeding on the inner part of the breast, but I am just assuming it's related?

Now tonight the poor child won't settle, has done about 4 stools in a row, all black coffee style, which I assume is because of all the I ingested blood. What can I do? Has it upset her tummy bad?

What can I do about the bleeding?? I feel so lost :(

Oh chick that sounds awful! Maybe instead of feeding her from that side, you express from that side and only feed from the other till it clears? Maybe it is just a cracked nipple but you can't tell unless she's feeding on it, which when she's feeding from you can't see. I'm sorry I really have no other suggestions or advice.

Fwiw, DS poops every single nappy here, he's a major poop machine, her digestive system is probably kicking in. I guess the colour would be blood. I'm sure it wouldn't harm her though.

Hugs

Don't worry about her ingesting blood. Breastmilk is just white blood really anyway.

I think you need to see a LC and get an opinion on where the injury is. Does your hospital have a breastfeeding clinic?

The blood isn't really a concern for your baby, but it does indicate you've damaged something. Perhaps get on to an LC if it persists if you have more concerns? It may simply right itself, however. If the next poos are back to normal and you feel ok then I'd assume all was sorted. Take care

Hugs Little O. Did you call the ABA? I phoned yesterday and the counsellor was really nice. Def see a LC too, just to make sure everything's ok.

That happened to me once. Freaked out. Rang ABA. They told me it could be inflammatory breast cancer (among other things - they weren't trying to be unhelpful, just something they were obliged to mention). Freaked out even more.

Went to GP. GP said everything was fine. Sent me for a breast ultrasound just to make sure. It was all fine and never happened again.

Baby was fine. Blood does irritate their tummy a bit but in a couple of years when they are pretending to be superman you realise swallowing a bit of blood is totally fine.

And we all lived happily ever after. I'm sure you will too, but go see your GP if you're worried.

Not trying to be flippant - just wanting to reassure you :)

Pretty sure you haven’t ruptured anything - just a bit of nipple damage (even if you can’t see much) It’s fine to keep breastfeeding. A little blood with the milk is not really problemsatic. But take care with attachment