Could the mom have intraductal papilloma, which may look bad but be
inconsequential as far as breast milk and breastfeeding are concerned? (And
the thick, bloody appearance generally disappears within days-weeks after
birth.) I hope no one is giving the mom the impression that her milk might be
"bad."

Lawrence & Lawrence describe how to get a midstream "clean catch" of breast
milk for culture p.r.n. in their section on recurrent mastitis.

I'm assuming the baby is not getting mom's milk due to being n.p.o. and on IV
vs. fear of something in the milk? Would think the antibodies in mom's milk
could be crucial when the baby is p.o. again.

Karen G

In a message dated 99-12-20 03:13:44 EST, you write:

<< ...Our practice has a 3 day old patient who was admitted to the PICU and
intubated yesterday...Today he is growing gram positive cocci in his blood!
Though the mom was GBS negative, it's not clear when the test was done (she
was followed by a birthing center and then transferred to the hospital for
failure to progress)...

 The question I have is this:  Mom is pumping bloody thick stuff from her
 right breast.  The baby preferred this breast since the other nipple was
 flat.  She is not febrile or with any symptoms of illness.  The PI staff is
 evidently not allowing any breastmilk at this time to be given to the
 infant.  Will culturing the milk have any benefit for this child? >>

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