MotherBreastFeeding.com

At first days after child birth some moms may have blood in breast milk. As a result, colostrum is rust colored, pink or red. Sometimes when a mother pumps she may observe blood in her milk. Some mothers feel slight breast pain, some wonder if it is ok to breastfeed with small amount of blood.

Let's consider the above issues.

Causes of Blood in Breast Milk

Strong stress. After delivery new mommies have low stress resistance which may cause blood in breast milk. Consult a psychologist, he/she will help to overcome the difficulties. Moreover, rely on your family support.

Leaking breasts. This is quite normal when you are lactating. In several weeks breasts will begin to dry up and leakage will begin to stop when mother's breast becomes soft. Pinkish milk will turn into white once a mom and her baby master breastfeeding.

Microtraumas. They occur due to wrong pumping or injuries of breasts. If you use an electric pump, try to use manual/hand expression techniques. If after that there is no blood in breast milk - avoid using a pump.

As a rule, mothers stop breastfeeding because of two reasons – either it is right time or mothers are reluctant to breastfeed any longer. A baby can be fed mother’s milk for a long time, but not forever. As for getting tired of breastfeeding – I can say nothing about it, as personally I am against such treatment of a baby. I prefer to talk here about how to know if it is right time for stopping breastfeeding or not.

Is mom ready? To detect if mother’s body is ready to stop lactating is quite easy. Watch closely for changes in your breasts when you stop breastfeeding for a while (12-24 h). Are you producing much milk? If there is no uncomfortable feeling, and there is no need to pump – it is ok then.

Is baby ready? It is only you who can understand if the child is ready or not to stop breastfeeding, as there is the bond between a mother and a child. Most women feel when their child needs to be weaned off. Still, there are specific signs apart mere feelings. If your baby needs nursing no more than 3 times a day, when it does not suckle a bottle, thumb or something else, you are welcome to wean it off the breast. Otherwise, try gradual decrease in time at the breast, nurse no more than 1-3 times and only then stop breastfeeding.