“Strawberry milk” is the common term for breast milk that appears discolored with a pink, red, or brownish tint due to the presence of blood. This sight can be alarming for a parent, especially when first noticed while pumping or when the infant spits up. While the appearance suggests a problem, the cause is frequently benign and often resolves without extensive intervention. The presence of blood in breast milk is a temporary condition rather than a reason to stop breastfeeding altogether.
Understanding the Appearance of Pink Milk
The visual changes in the milk are medically referred to as hematolactia, describing blood mixing with the milk. The color can range from a faint pink blush to a brighter red, or even a dark, rust-colored brown. The specific hue depends on the volume of blood present and how long the blood has been in the milk ducts before expression.
A brighter pink or red tint often suggests fresher bleeding, while a darker brown or rust color indicates older, partially digested blood. This discoloration is most often noticed by parents who are expressing their milk, as it is easily visible in a collection bottle or flange.
Common Reasons for Red Milk Discoloration
The source of the blood can be traced to two main categories: trauma to the nipple or internal changes within the breast. External causes like nipple trauma are common, resulting from cracks or fissures on the nipple surface. This damage frequently occurs when a baby has a shallow or improper latch, or when pumping with incorrect flange sizing or excessive suction.
Healing the underlying nipple damage, often by correcting the baby’s latch or adjusting pump settings, typically stops the bleeding and resolves the discoloration within a few days.
Internal bleeding is most frequently linked to “rusty pipe syndrome,” which occurs in the early postpartum period. This phenomenon results from the rapid increase in blood flow and development of the vascular system as milk production begins. Tiny capillaries surrounding the milk ducts can rupture, leaking small amounts of blood into the colostrum or early milk.
The milk often appears brown or rust-colored, resembling water from an old, rusty pipe. This syndrome is considered self-limiting, meaning it resolves on its own and is not associated with pain or infection. The discoloration typically clears completely within three to seven days as the blood vessels stabilize and the milk ducts begin to function normally.
Safety Concerns for the Breastfed Infant
A parent’s primary concern is whether it is safe for the baby to ingest this blood-tinged milk. In the vast majority of cases, the small amount of maternal blood present is harmless, as the infant’s digestive system can process the quantity without negative health effects.
Occasionally, an infant may spit up milk that appears reddish or pass dark-colored stools, which are the result of the digested blood. While this can be visually concerning, it is usually just an indication that the blood has moved through the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. The taste of the milk may be slightly altered, but this rarely causes a baby to refuse feeding.
Continuing to breastfeed from the affected breast is generally recommended, as the benefits of breast milk outweigh any minimal risk posed by the blood. The exception is if the parent has a bloodborne pathogen that could be transmitted through the milk, which requires immediate discussion with a healthcare provider.
Next Steps and Seeking Medical Guidance
If a parent notices blood in their breast milk, the first step is to assess the situation for obvious causes, such as cracked or painful nipples. For external trauma, seeking assistance from a lactation consultant can help correct latching issues or pumping mechanics to promote healing. Applying a medical-grade lanolin or hydrogel pads can also provide comfort and aid the repair of damaged tissue.
Medical guidance should be sought if the bleeding is heavy, persists for longer than one week, or appears after the initial postpartum period. Parents should also consult a healthcare provider if the discoloration is accompanied by other maternal symptoms. These signs include a fever, flu-like body aches, severe pain, or a palpable lump in the breast, which could indicate a breast infection like mastitis.
Persistent bleeding, especially after the expected resolution of “rusty pipe syndrome,” may require further investigation to rule out less common issues, such as a benign tumor in the milk ducts. Timely consultation with a doctor or lactation medicine specialist ensures the underlying cause is correctly identified and managed.