Spit up with brown stuff - gross!

lisac1017

First, yes I have called the pediatrician's office.  

DS just spat up a little, the first time all day in fact, and in addition to the normal white mucousy stuff, was a splotch of brownish crap along with it.  I didn't think much of it, but a few minutes later, he spat up more with the brown stuff again.  My first thought is OH NO is this blood??

The pedi said to monitor him and if it happens 3 or more times to make an appointment.  Has anyone had this happen to their LO before or have an idea what it could be? 

He's EBF, no colored meds or supplements.  

Thanks!  

jlsimon56

No iron drops?  Like that poly-vi-sol stuff?

My first thought would have been blood too.  No bleeding nips? 

shotzie

Check your nipples. Do you have any cracks? If you try hand expressing, do any drops of blood come out? I had "rusty pipes" after delivering both my LO's. Blood came out with my colostrum for a couple days. If they spit up, it was brown. You wouldn't develop rusty pipes now, but you might have some nipple trauma. I'd also check his mouth for any cuts (like from his fingernails if he chews on his hands).

lisac1017

Thanks for helping me take on this mystery. No iron drops, no cracked nipples, no cuts in his mouth. He spat up more since my post. One more time and it's off to the dr. 

pepomntpat

Are your nipples even sore at all?  You'd be surprised what a little bit of blood can look like. I'm willing to bet it is your own blood.

ETA: And yes, this happened with my DD and I freaked out. I had sore nipples but they weren't really cracked yet. Then they were, then I had mastitis, then I had thrush.  I was the one who needed a doctor, not LO! 

sept2may

This happened to me too and it was my nipples. I couldn't get blood to come out when I squeezed them, but his suction was so much more powerful that he obviously could. I knew they were cracked because of the pain and because running clear water over them stung.