Lynn,
<Of course, I wasn't surprised BUT was and am curious about whether
the bleeding had anything to do with the involution/apoptosis process.>

I personally doubt it, or we would see weaning mothers having more
bleeding reports. I see I need to look up a more thorough explanation of
"apoptosis", because I originally thought of a different meaning for that
word.

I think the involution process is slower in the immediate postpartum
period than your client's situation.

I envision involution as more of a process of reabsorption of the cell
contents and sluffing off of the cell walls, which would not have a
direct blood supply. The blood supply for an alveolus is from the basal
membrane at the base of the cell, from which all necessary components are
released into the cell.

I think a more likely explanation would be a small polyp or two in the
ducts, which is not uncommon, especially as we age. I think this is
generally the explanation given for the "rusty pipe" syndrome sometimes
seen. Full milk production must dilute it so it becomes invisible.

Usually, the blood is going straight into the baby's mouth, and is
unseen, so I get it happens more often than we know.

Jean
*********************
K. Jean Cotterman RNc, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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