Breast milk with blood can continue to breastfeed?

Seeing blood in your breast milk for the first time can frighten you. However, this is a normal phenomenon, especially for women who have just given birth. And this condition does not necessarily mean you have something.

In fact, the blood mixed in breast milk is often very difficult to recognize, unless you pump the milk into a bottle or your baby has bloody or bloody stools. Let aFamilyToday Health learn about this issue.

Is breast milk mixed with blood safe for your baby or not?

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association , breastmilk comes in a variety of colors and is often constantly changing. Colostrum is light yellow in color, while the posterior milk is white and a little bluish-purple in color. Therefore, if the blood gets into breast milk, the milk may change to red, pink, coffee brown, orange or olive green. However, this usually won't harm your baby and you don't have to stop breastfeeding.

Babies may vomit / turn into milk with a little blood mixed with blood or blood can pass through the digestive tract and appear in the stool. If your baby sucks on large amounts of blood-contaminated breastmilk, he or she may vomit dark fluid or dark colored stools. In this case, you do not need to worry too much, but see your doctor for a more detailed consultation.

Make sure you do not have any diseases that can be passed on to your baby through breast milk. For example, if you have HIV / AIDS , hepatitis, or a systemic infection such as sepsis then it's best to stop breastfeeding and consult your doctor.

Sometimes, a change in color does not mean there is blood in the milk, as certain foods you eat can cause a change in color.

Cause breast milk is contaminated with blood

Blood appears in breast milk for many reasons. Most of these reasons are usually not serious and can be solved. Usually, this should not last longer than 1 month, unless your nipples are damaged. If your breastmilk has been contaminated with blood for more than 1 month, you should talk to your doctor. Some causes of blood in breast milk you should know:

1. Cracked nipples

Cracked or damaged nipples can cause blood in breast milk. This can occur in the first few weeks after birth, when your baby is not yet able to breastfeed effectively or because you don't know how to place a nipple in your baby's mouth . If the nipples are scratched, blistered or have open wounds, the tissues will bleed from the tension when your baby is nursing or using a breast pump. If this continues after a few weeks, you should consult your doctor.

Rusty Pipe Syndrome

Vascular strain syndrome is a common cause of blood in breast milk, usually within the first few days of life. When you have this syndrome, breastmilk will be red, like the color of rust.

A strain is a condition in which a large amount of blood or other fluids enters the breast. A sudden rise will cause an enlargement of the ducts. In addition, it also promotes the growth of the cells responsible for milk production in the breast. Some of the blood that may remain in the tube will flow out through the milk flow.

This is painless and can occur in one or both breasts. Usually, tension vasculature goes away on its own, without you having to do anything. However, if you notice that your breastmilk has been contaminated with blood for several weeks, you should talk to your doctor.

3. Intraductal Papilloma

Papillomas inside the milk ducts are an uncommon reason for blood-contaminated breast milk. These are small, benign, bumps that look like warts that form in the ducts. These tumors can cause bleeding and cause blood to appear in breast milk. Usually, this condition can go away on its own without treatment. Sometimes you may feel pain, but these papillomas do not cause lumps. Another less common cause is cystic fibrosis, a benign condition that can cause your breasts to feel lumpy.

4. Broken capillaries

Injury or damage to the small blood vessels or capillaries in the breast from improper use of a breast pump or breast injury can also cause blood to leak into the ducts and into breast milk. Sometimes a breast pump can put too much pressure on your nipples, resulting in damage to your nipples.

5. Mastitis

Mastitis is an infection of the breast that causes bleeding. Lumps that appear in large numbers may indicate that you have mastitis in the early stages. If you have mastitis, you may experience swelling and pain on the affected feeding side. In addition, the breasts will also be red, hot, and painful to the touch. Talk to your doctor right away if you find yourself experiencing any of the above symptoms.

6. Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most rare cause of blood mixed in breast milk. Some types of breast cancer, such as ductal carcinoma and Paget's disease, can lead to bleeding nipples. Your doctor will help you diagnose this disease and recommend the appropriate treatment.

What should you do if you recognize that your breast milk is contaminated with blood?

Do not panic, but follow these steps:

Continue to breastfeed or pump even if your breast milk is contaminated with blood.

As long as your baby is still feeding well and not vomiting, you can still continue to breastfeed your baby with blood-contaminated breastmilk.

Ask your doctor about how to breastfeed better and to have a suitable, comfortable feeding position.

Watch for symptoms of infection such as fever, swelling, pain, and redness in your breasts.

Infections such as mastitis need to be treated with antibiotics. If you don't get the right treatment, there is a chance that you will have a blocked ducts and can no longer breastfeed.

To reduce dryness and cracked nipples, you can apply lanolin or vaselin on your nipples.

If you feel pain while breastfeeding, take time for your nipples to heal. You can use baby safe creams to apply to the nipples. To maintain milk supply, continue to express milk (from 8-10 times / day) and find other solutions to replace breast milk.

If you can't find a clear cause for the bleeding and if it doesn't go away in a week, see your doctor right away.

When expressing milk by hand, be sure to pay attention to expressing gently. Also, make sure you use a vacuum with a moderate speed and pressure.

Containing breast milk does not usually harm a baby. Therefore, you can still continue with your baby as usual. However, you should still see your doctor to find out the cause and take the appropriate treatment.