BLEEDING, please help!

[lunawaffles]

So, I've had a sore left nipple for about two days or so, I have to use a breast shield which is probably why but nothing I can do. But just now I was breastfeeding and he spit the shield out after a few seconds, and it was full of droplets of blood! He's feeding on the other side now, but my other breast is FULL and I'm sure he's going to want it D:

I figure I can't pump it cos there's blood in it, and I know this will take longer than a day to heal. Should I just give him the one side, pump/dump the other, and supplement the rest with formula til its healed? I don't know what to do :\

 

[Hopeful18]

Here's some info I found.

If the cause of sore nipples is found and fixed, they usually improve quickly. However, if this doesn’t happen, they can develop cracks. Sometimes the crack in the nipple skin can be seen on the nipple itself or where the nipple joins the areola, or the crack can be very fine and hard to see. Breastfeeding with a cracked nipple is often painful and cracked nipples may bleed during breastfeeds.

Please note: Although bleeding looks scary and blood may sometimes show up in your baby’s bowel motions or vomit, it is not harmful to your baby. It is quite safe for her to keep breastfeeding.

Things to do to help a cracked nipple:

Find the cause — poor positioning or attachment, medical problems such as infection or dermatitis on your nipples, or anatomical problems such as tongue-tie in your baby, or damage from incorrect use of breast pumps.
Follow the ideas for sore nipples.
You may need to take your baby off the sore breast for 12–24 hours to rest the nipple and allow healing to begin.
Express, by hand if you are able, or use a suitable breast pump, to maintain your supply. Feed the expressed milk to your baby with a small cup.
Start breastfeeding on the sore nipple again gradually, with short feeds. Feed your baby from the less-sore side first. Take special care with positioning and attachment.
See your medical adviser if you need pain relief or you suspect a medical cause.
Use a nipple shield only after seeking expert help.

I had a few sore spots when I began too, I used lanolin and that helped.
Good luck!

 

[optimistic1]

Agree with everything hopeful 18 said. It's not dangerous for your baby to ingest a small amount of blood while feeding. My left nipple was cracked and eventually started bleeding and my daughter ate on it for hours before I realized and she's fine..she did have blood in her diaper when she peed once but it's undetermined if that was from hormones or her ingesting blood..

 

[lunawaffles]

But it hurts sooo bad, I literally sobbed just trying to pump for a second ; ; It's good to know it won't hurt him though- who knows how much he drank before he let go.