Why do mommies hide their feelings about how they feel about becoming a mother? Coming home with your first child, especially mothers who are a bit older and are set with a career and an active social lifestyle, can be very confusing, even a downright depressing time for new moms. However, we hide these feelings through quiet guilt of all the little things that we wish we could do, but know that “good” moms don’t.

I loved reading this wonderful article about longing for that one wonderful drink that you wish you could have, but are too terrified to indulge in, especially when breastfeeding for that new little one. 18 Months, One Night Out … and I Feel Guilty brought back memories of one evening when I indulged in a couple of wonderful glasses of homemade amaretto. I was reluctantly “peer-pressured” into sipping a glass of the amaretto by one of my best friends as a number of moms got together with our babies one evening. As I relaxed and enjoyed the evening with the other moms, I’d noticed that warm sensation of tipsiness that I had not felt in well over a year. After I’d gotten back home that evening, I cried to my husband about the terrible guilt that I felt about the evening and having to throw out my baby’s breast milk.

How long did I have to throw out this precious breast milk and should I even take the chance of going through it again? I am quite sure that many moms give up breastfeeding for the very reason of wanting to enjoy a drink every once in a while without experiencing the guilt that accompanies each occasion.

Well, more than likely it is blood in pumped breast milk. That’s right – blood. All you have to do is look down and notice the cracks in your nipples to realize why your breast milk is pink.

If your nipples are cracked, painful, and bleeding, then you are pushing your breasts too hard. Some things that you may need to do are:

• Use a healing cream. It is very good to keep your nipples from cracking and bleeding. Using a wonderful soothing cream that is healthy for your baby is very important. One of my favorite all organic creams is Natural Nipple Cream.
• Slow down the suction on your pump. Sometimes we get a little anxious and just want to get as much milk out as fast as possible. If your pump allows you to change settings, you should begin at the highest suction that feels comfortable. As you pump, you will increase the suction and slow down the speed, just as a baby would. But most importantly, PUMPING SHOULD NOT HURT. If it hurts, something is not right.

Now, back to the blood. This can be perfectly normal. Can you give it to your baby? I was told by my lactation consultant that it is fine. Besides mothers that breastfeed also get cracked nipples and the babies will also receive the blood. It is up to you. But, continue to pump, whether you keep the milk or not. In addition to the cracked nipples, you could have an infection inside the breast, and you should contact your doctor or lactation consultant.

Well, more than likely it is blood in pumped breast milk. That’s right – blood. All you have to do is look down and notice the cracks in your nipples to realize why your breast milk is pink.

If your nipples are cracked, painful, and bleeding, then you are pushing your breasts too hard. Some things that you may need to do are:

• Use a healing cream. It is very good to keep your nipples from cracking and bleeding. Using a wonderful soothing cream that is healthy for your baby is very important. One of my favorite all organic creams is Natural Nipple Cream.
• Slow down the suction on your pump. Sometimes we get a little anxious and just want to get as much milk out as fast as possible. If your pump allows you to change settings, you should begin at the highest suction that feels comfortable. As you pump, you will increase the suction and slow down the speed, just as a baby would. But most importantly, PUMPING SHOULD NOT HURT. If it hurts, something is not right.

Now, back to the blood. This can be perfectly normal. Can you give it to your baby? I was told by my lactation consultant that it is fine. Besides mothers that breastfeed also get cracked nipples and the babies will also receive the blood. It is up to you. But, continue to pump, whether you keep the milk or not. In addition to the cracked nipples, you could have an infection inside the breast, and you should contact your doctor or lactation consultant.