Hi Jennifer
I saw a mother in a similar situation about a year ago. She was
breastfeeding a 6 month old when she was involved in a vehicle
accident which caused massive bruising to her breast (the breast
turned black!!). She expressed
very bloody milk for about a week, which gradually faded to a pink
colour. The amount of damage to her breast meant that she had a huge
haematoma within the breast which had to be surgically drained. She
continued to feed from both sides for another month or so, when she
discovered she was pregnant and chose to wean.
During the next lactation, she found she was more prone to blocked
ducts in the previously damaged side, and had unusual pulling pains
in that breast. Whether this related to the original injury or the
surgical intervention is hard to say.
I feel you mum should continue to pump. It will remove any blood from
the breast, and stimulate milk supply. If she doesn't pump,
engorgement will be exacerbated by the bruising and blood already
there.
Fiona Coombes MBBS IBCLC               [log in to unmask]
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Lactation Consultant, Family Physician     Perth Western Australia