Written by Editorial Team
The presence of blood in breast milk may scare the mother when she first notices it. But there is nothing to worry about as it is common, specifically among new moms. Usually, it does not point to any severe health issue.
In fact, a lot of times the blood in mother’s milk goes unnoticed. She usually discovers the blood when she pumps the breast milk or if the baby spits up a little blood-tinged milk or blood is visible in her baby’s stools.
In This Article
Yes, it is. Before getting into details, let us assure you that there is nothing to worry about a little blood in breast milk that enters your baby’s system. It will not harm your baby. Let us not forget that the baby was inside you not that long ago sharing the blood supply.
The only challenge that you might face is if the baby picks the difference in taste and refuse to suckle. But since they are very small, and the quantity of blood will be very little, the chances of this is remote.
Here are some common causes for spotting blood in breast milk:
This is the most common reason for seeing blood in breast milk. It could be caused due to a number of reasons – a cut near the nipple, cracked nipples due to improper latching, or an open blister near the nipple. So when the baby sucks on your breast, the tissue around the cut becomes pressurized (just like when you squeeze a cut on the finger) and a small amount of blood will ooze out.
This condition, which is common in first-time moms, is also called “Rusty Pipe Syndrome”. It is called so because the milk will have a rusty color. It is caused due to the high amount of activity in your breasts – there is increased milk flow, there are faster milk movements and there are increasingly more milk-producing tissues created every day in your breasts. All these lead to milk having an orange or pinkish tinge.
One of the rarer causes of blood in breast milk can be Breast cancer. Certain types of breast cancer can cause nipple bleeding. This also needs immediate examination by the doctor.
This is another benign condition in which lumps can be felt in the breasts which are very uncomfortable. These lumps are non-cancerous.
This is caused due to some trauma that happened to the breasts, such as over-squeezing while expressing milk using a hand, wrong use of a breast pump, or pressure due to very tight clothes.
This is a benign tumor found in the milk ducts present in the breast. Do not be frightened by the word tumor, these ones are harmless. Unlike their more serious counterparts, intraductal papilloma cannot be felt during a physical examination.
Mastitis is a breast infection that causes bleeding. In this condition, you will notice a lot of soft lumps, swelling, and pain in the breasts. In addition to this, you can also notice redness and soreness in your breast along with a slight temperature. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Now, the good news is that all the above-mentioned causes of spotting blood in breast milk get resolved themselves. For instance,
Our advice for you is to wait it out. The pain, discomfort, and blood will disappear once your breast heals. Meanwhile, here are a few techniques for you to cope.
All that said, please talk to your doctor if any of the following occurs:
In conclusion, in most cases, the blood in breast milk is not as scary as it might look. The reason or cause for it is minor and it will most likely resolve itself. The inconvenience is the only problem you need to deal with. So keep your worries at bay and enjoy your motherhood.
Congratulations to the new mommy!
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