Ladies, 
I'm posting with mom's permission. I am a hospital based IBCLC, and not very 
experienced with older nurslings. Got a call from a Breast Center about this 
mom, then spoke with mom. Her nursling is just over 4 months old and things 
were going well until about a month ago. Mom developed a mass in the right 
breast which was ultimately diagnosed as a galactocele. 15 days ago, this 
was drained, and she was told to wean. Not an option for her. 

Yesterday, mom stated she has been nursing on the left, pumping on the right 
because of large amount of blood from that breast. She has not had to 
supplement. She says the mass reappeared almost immediately after being 
drained and the mass waxes and wanes as the breast is full or empty. Early 
yesterday, she pumped thick tan to brown milk that became more bloody as 
the day progressed. Mid afternoon, appeared to be pure blood, but later in the 
afternoon, seems less bloody. 

I advised her to continue nursing on the unaffected breast and gentle pumping 
on the affected side to try to allow healing and prevent more bleeding while I 
could gather more info. We discussed reporting symptoms of infection, 
maintaining milk supply, etc.

What can she do to help this problem resolve? How much blood in her milk is 
too much for the baby to take the milk? She has been told somewhere if it is 
less pink than strawberry milk mix that it should be OK for the baby. We 
discussed watching the baby for signs of tolerance/intolerance of the milk. We 
also discussed the possiblity of allowing the affected side to involute and 
continuing on the unaffected side. 

This mom and I will be very grateful for any wisdom anyone can provide. I've 
searched the archives and found very little on galactoceles. Please reply on 
list or privately at [log in to unmask] Thanks so much, Deb

Debra Ray, MSN, RNC, IBCLC

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