What causes blood when pumping?
Usually if you are seeing blood when you’re pumping, it’s because a small blood vessel in the breast has ruptured due to the action of the pump. These blood vessels are tiny and fragile, and they break fairly easily. The good news is that they generally heal quickly, usually by the next time you need to nurse or pump. However, if you are consistently seeing blood in the milk, some possible causes include: – You are pumping too hard – You have the wrong size of breastshields – Cracked or blistered nipples – Rusty Pipe Syndrome Since you recently got a new and more powerful pump, I would suspect that the problem is the new pump, and the increased suction it generates. You might want to start the pump off at the lowest level, and only gradually turn it up higher. A gentler start might reduce the trauma that’s making you bleed.
