Breast/nipple infection - blood in baby's stool?

Question

I breastfed my baby until she was four weeks old when her pediatrician claimed she was "allergic" to my breastmilk after having blood in her stool. Her stool was also a weird consistancy and had various colors and textures in it besides the streaks of blood. She thought it might be a dairy allergy so I stopped eating/drinking any dairy. A few days later my baby was still having the same strange poop. Her doctor said she would have to start drinking hypoallergenic formula.

My nipples were severely cracked/bleeding for the first couple weeks of my daughter's life. I'm wondering now if I could have had an infection in them that caused my daughter's stomach problems. She's now nine weeks old and is have a horrible time with her BM because of the formula. I'm having a weird yellow crust form on my nipples and have been running a fever for weeks; I wonder if I could still have an infection... Has anyone ever heard of a nipple infection causing GI symptoms in an infant?

Answer 1

Yes!!! my daughter had blood like that after my nipples cracked when she was 2 months old, i had to go on antibotitics for a week and then get it checked, i thought i was doing to die when she ate off of me. I would go see you doctor and make sure everything is ok.

Answer 2

Many cases of blood in infant stools have no known cause. If the baby is otherwise well and growing, blood in the stool often resolves on its own, but this should always be checked out by baby's doctor.

The color of the blood gives you a clue about where it originated. Blood originating in the colon or rectum tends to be red and may only streak the outside of the stool. If the blood originates further up the GI tract, then the blood is generally darker in color (dark brown/maroon, black) and mixed throughout the stool instead of just on the outside.

Some potential causes of blood in baby's stools:
A common cause of blood in an infant's stool is a slight anal tear (fissure) from baby straining with the passage of the stool. The small amount of blood from an anal fissure tends to look like a red streak on the outside of the stool.
Another common cause of blood in the stools of infants is food allergies. The top allergens are cow's milk products and soy. See Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies for more information.
A third common cause: If mom has a cracked nipple or other bleeding, then baby may ingest some blood from mom (this is not harmful to baby), which may show up in baby's stool.
Occasionally, blood in the stool may be due to breastmilk oversupply. Per Dr. Jack Newman, bloody stools in some babies have been eliminated completely by resolving mom's oversupply. This can be done by following the usual management procedures for oversupply; it can also be helpful to use breast compressions to increase the amount of fat that baby gets while nursing. See Can a baby be allergic to breastmilk? for more information on oversupply causing blood in baby's stool.
There are several case reports of a baby beginning to have mucous and/or blood in the stool after starting vitamin/fluoride drops, where the blood disappeared after the drops were discontinued.
Blood in the stool may also be caused by a temporary case of lactose intolerance, due to an intestinal infection.
Certain kinds of infectious diarrhea can cause bloody stools in babies, including Salmonella and C. Difficile. C. Difficile is a bacteria that grows in the gut if the bacterial balance has been upset; the toxin can cause injury to the mucosa and bloody stools. Breastfed babies tend to have less severe symptoms than non-breastfed babies because breastmilk inhibits the growth of the bacteria.
Various forms of colitis, intussusception, or other intestinal disorders are other possible causes.

Answer 3

Bloody Baby Stool

Answer 4

I find it impossible to believe your baby was "allergic" to your breast milk. I think your MD was seriously mistaken. If your nipples were bleeding, it is not unheard of that it might show up in your baby's stools. I'm so sorry he made you quit nursing.

As far as your still having problems with your nipples and long term fever alarms me. You should go see your OB/GYN ASAP and have him culture your nipples and any discharge.
From my experience as a Lactation Consultant, it definitely sounds to me like you have an infection that will probably need oral antibiotics..

To help you get through the discomfort in your nipples until your doc sees you, you could try some 100% Lanolin cream like Lansinoh. Works great and perfectly safe. (BE SURE that you do not have the cream on your nipples when you see your doc. )

As far as your baby's constipation...breast milk is a natural laxative. Your Pediatrician really did you an injustice making you quit! I imagine your going to have to probably change to a low iron formula. Iron enriched formulas cause severe constipation for some babies.

Best of luck to you! Remember to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby!

Answer 5

another shining example of an idiot doctor who knows nothing about breastfeeding

obviously you had a breast infection...and yes the blood from your milk was passed into her bm's.......baby's are NOT allergic to their own mother's milk

i had a terrible case of mastitis the first month after my daughter was born.....i was sooooooo sick......fever, chills, cracked bleeding nipple, and the pain .......but the recovery for this is antibiotic( and i hate conventional meds) and to nurse and pump out the infection.....which doesnt harm the baby at all....baby can nurse on the infected breast and i also pumped cuz it was too painful for her nurse on that particular infected breast

go see your doctor about clearing up the mastiis and start nursing her again....it still shocks me doctors reccommend formula ......and formula is formula....it doesn't matter if it's "hypoallergenic" or some s hit like that

good luck babe and find a new pedi

Answer 6

I haven't heard, but GET YOURSELF TO THE DOCTOR!!!! It definitely sounds like you have an infection, and you really do not want to let that go! Running a fever is one of the key signs of mastitis!!! And I would get a second opinion on needing to switch permanently to formula. I have found there are several doctors who jump directly to formula if ANYTHING is wrong... and it is usually unnecessary. What a cruel trick nature would be playing by making your baby allergic to your milk. If anything, it is something in the milk, and a doctor should be willing to work with you to change your diet for the health of your baby!!

Answer 7

Dear im_shady,
I do not know the answers,but i think it is time you go and visit your doctor and get examined for infection because running a fever for weeks is not a good symptom and as for your little one if she is active and has a good appetite no need to worry.get her checked frequently for infection especially a stool test.
Best wishes r.s

Answer 8

both of you need to see a doctor and get both problems checked out. yes you could have passed an infection on to the baby

Answer 9

yes