Strawberry milk

[prettybirdy27]

I was just pumping and not paying attention when I looked down to see blood running into my right bottle. My nipple tore and now the milk is pink, it looks just like strawberry milk. Is this okay to give LO? I hate the thought of wasting 4oz.

Any time I put the power on my pump up to a certain level, it tears my nipples. But it's not even at 1/4 power and I'd like to eventually work it up higher. Any tips or tricks to keep myself from tearing?

 

[hanni]

I used to smear the flanges (is that the right word? I can't remember?) With nipple cream before pumping and work up to a higher speed.

In theory it's probably fine, I used to breast feed with cracked and bedding nipples so it's probably no different, but I'd get rid of it anyway.

Oh how I'm looking forward to nipple pads, tonnes of nipple cream and the breast pump again 😂

 

[staralfur]

It's fine, I had bloody nipples for like 2 months so my LO must have gotten a ton of blood directly from the breast when she was little! I had the bloody pumped milk a few times and kept it. I always had to pump on low with my electric pump, found my manual much easier on my poor nips.

 

[Bevziibubble]

The milk will be fine. I had cracked and bleeding nipples with my daughter, so she would have ended up drinking some too directly from the breast. I even saw blood in her spit up once which freaked me out but the breastfeeding consultant said she wouldn't be harmed by it.
Maybe use the pump on a lower setting as the higher settings can be quite tough on the nipples.

 

[noon_child]

Wrong size flanges can mean you aren't able to use stronger power without damage. Only some breast pumps offer different size flanges but it might be worth investigating. The milk should be fine.

 

[prettybirdy27]

Thanks everyone. I usually keep the pump at a certain power, but that day, I decided to try to up it just slightly. I did try different flanges, I have the smallest ones Medela makes, and I still feel like they may be too big I do wish I could increase the power because I don't even have it at 1/4 power and I feel like I'm not getting as much out of my pumping sessions as I could be.

 

[minties]

I have never found a flange small enough! Most are more suited to my thumb than my nipple, most other women must have gigantic nipples, else mine are just very narrow.

 

[noon_child]

https://www.ameda.com/breast-pumping/getting-started/flange-fit