Susan Hilton,
Is it possible that the "dark blood" is Bile? Sometimes bile looks really
dark and  it can look like old blood to the untrained eye.
Dark blood in the stools looks like tar--and may be somewhat sticky-- because
it comes from high in the digestive system and has been partially digested.
 Dark brown could be from the small intestines. Bright red- the large
intestine or rectum. So I am really concerned when you write  >> Peds told
mom that blood in stools was from rectal bleeding.  Mom states blood looks
DARK RED and is fairly small amount, not in every stool. <<
The stools should (must) be tested for occult (hidden) blood. In my humble
opinion, it would be foolish not to test the stools that are not obviously
bloody. I've been through this a few times. One bad case I remember where the
baby was spitting up bright red blood and had some tarry flecks in the
stools: was an esophageal tear (supposedly from a traumatic delivery) that
went undiagnosed for a month because everyone thought the blood was mom's.
 There is a really easy test--called hemocult in the US--takes a small amount
of stool, the test paper and (tahda) the answer is there in seconds.
Then there's the question if the blood is from the baby or from mom's
nipples. When there has been concern we've done a  blood type to see who it
belonged to. Sometimes this lets you know who it's coming from--sometimes it
doesn't.

Everyone is so *used to* blaming the breastfeeding, that they may overlook
other causes.  At the very least it could be a rectal tear--but the *Dark
Red* doesn't fit the picture (I guess would have to see the blood for myself
to make a real judgement call). The green stools bother me too. Are they
slimey, frothy, and/or smelly?

>>>I've discussed possible problems with mom consuming dairy products.  Am I
on the right track or is it possible that something else is going on? <<<  An
allergen would explain the green stools but not the blood.  I look for the
following in mom's diet:  prenatal vitamins (I see this more often than milk
allergies), nuts, eggs and citrus.  Be care restricting her diet I've had a
lot of mom's quit because they can handle the restrictions.  Start with the
easiest to live without first.
Keep us posted
Marie Davis
Moreno Valley, CA