Causes Of Blood In Pumped Breast Milk

Seeing blood in pumped breast milk can be quite scary at first. As a new breastfeeding mom, there were a lot of things I was not prepared for. Bleeding nipples was one of them. But are there other causes of blood in pumped breast milk? And is it safe to still nurse your baby or feed them the pumped milk?Causes Of Blood In Pumped Breast Milk

Causes of Blood in Pumped Breast Milk

There are several potential causes of blood being present in breast milk. Some of the more common reasons are:

    1. Damaged Nipples

This is probably the most common cause. Many new moms find their nipples cracked and bleeding when starting their breastfeeding journey. This is often attributed to a poor latch. Treating the nipple can help it heal much faster and relieve the pain associated with the damage. It is important to continue breastfeeding or pumping to avoid more issues like clogged milk ducts and mastitis from not properly draining the breast.

    1. Something You Ate

Eating foods or drinking things that have a natural red, pink, or orange color or products that have dyes can cause your breast milk to take on a color that might be mistaken for blood. Foods like beets, colored soda or sports drinks, or other highly dyed foods have been known to give breast milk a red, pink or orange tinge.Causes Of Blood In Pumped Breast Milk

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    1. Mastitis

Mastitis is an infection within the breast and one symptom is blood being present in breast milk. It should be noted that there are usually other symptoms associated with Mastitis such as a fever, soreness/pain in the breast, redness, flu-like symptoms, and the breast is warm to the touch. If you present any symptoms of mastitis, you need to be seen by your doctor right away. Click here to learn more about Mastitis and it’s symptoms. In case you missed this going around on Social Media: This video tells one mom’s story of pumping bloody breast milk and clots before full symptoms of Mastitis set in (yikes):

    1. Broken Capillaries

The small blood vessels within your breast are called capillaries. Due to some sort of trauma to the breast (like using a breast pump improperly), these capillaries can burst and cause blood to steep into your breast milk. This should heal itself within a few days but ensure you are using your breast pump properly with the correct fitting breastshields is important.Causes Of Blood In Pumped Breast Milk

    1. “Rusty Pipe Syndrome”

Rusty Pipe Syndrome is most often found in first-time moms. In the first few weeks after giving birth, there is more blood flow to your breasts and this engorgement can actually seep into your milk ducts. As a result, your milk can appear orange, rust, or brown colored. While it is not pleasant to see, the milk is perfectly safe to give your baby and will go away after a few days.

    1. Benign Intraductal Papilloma

An intraductal Papilloma is a noncancerous growth that can be in the breast. It can cause bleeding if it grows in a milk duct or causes a duct to rupture. It often is seen as bleeding from the nipple without any actual damage to the nipple. You might be able to feel a small lump in the breast. You will want to see your doctor for an exam and diagnosis right away in this case.

    1. Breast Cancer

There are some types of breast cancer that can cause bleeding from the nipple. If bleeding does not resolve within a few days or the cause is unknown, it is always best to contact your doctor so that you can be examined.Causes Of Blood In Pumped Breast Milk