Pink?! UPDATE

[Blackcat31]

I have an infant in care who is in the process of finding the right/suitable formula. DCP's are going back and forth between milk based, soy based and a little bit of breastmilk...when available. (that is a whole other story).

So a couple of days ago, I was running late getting out of here and instead of washing the bottles at the end of the day, I simply took the bottle, rinsed it out and left it in the sink filled with water. (the bottles are Dr. Brown glass bottles if that makes a difference).

When I returned the next day, I noticed the water in the bottle had a bright, neon pink film across the top. I thought "hmm, weird ?" but never gaveit a second thought. Figured I am on city water at daycare so who knows what kind of flouride or junk they put in it so who knows.

Anyways, it has happened again a few times since and now I am seeing the same pink spots on the blankets/rags I use with the baby because the baby is a major spitter and spits up a lot.

Mom was supplying the rags/blankets but lately the baby has been a bit more spitty (due to the food intake changes) and I have been going through more rags/blankets than normal.

Yesterday the baby spit up in the PNP and when I threw the sheet in my laundry basket I didn't give it a second thought. Now this morning the spot on the sheet as well as the spot in the mattress of the PNP is stained bright neon pink. WTH?

Now that I am really looking for it now, I see that there is slight pinkish stains on the plastic inserts to the bottles too and some spots on other places the baby has spit up.

Anyone know what the heck that is? Why hot pink?

I took a photo of the PNP mattress so maybe you can see it in the photo below...

[Live and Learn]

Are you making the bottles at daycare or is mom making them at home and bringing them to you? Hopefully mom isn't putting Benadryl or something in a bottle. ParanoidI know .....but it's the first thing that came to mind.

[Blackcat31]

Are you making the bottles at daycare or is mom asking them at home and bringing them to you? Hopefully mom isn't putting Benadryl or something in a bottle. ParanoidI know .....but it's the first thing that came to mind.

I make them. She supplies the formula by the can, left at daycare. Brings fresh breastmilk daily when she can get enough.

I would suspect added things too, but this family is a golden one and VERY health conscious...cloth diapering, co-sleeping, breast milk if possible....VERY in tune to baby's needs and stuff.

I think they might even be a family that doesn't use any type of medications and things like that so definitely know mom didn't add anything. Baby is not on any supplements or anything like that either.

[crazydaycarelady]

I have NO idea what that could be but it is odd, very odd! I've never seen that in 21 years of providing care!

[youretooloud]

I would ask the parents to make the bottles at home for a while til you figure it out. I can't imagine why, but perhaps it's the water you use?

Or maybe they can bring filtered water in a bottle for a bit?

Otherwise, I can't imagine what it could be.

[Live and Learn]

I'm not sure how old the baby is but could they be giving baby grape or cranberry juice in the mornings and it is urping back up??....oh wait. It's in the bottle too....I give up....weird!

[Oneluckymom]

Are you using tap water? I ONLY use carbon filtered or bottled water ESP for babies. I have suspicion it's the water. So weird!

[Blackcat31]

Daycare family and I are both using city water. Our town is small enough that it is from the same water supply. They live only blocks away. I had asked mom before about using bottled water, but she believes bottled water is worse for you than tap. (???..I live in the country myself and use well water so I have no idea if that is true or not...just her preference to use tap water though)

Someone else I was chatting with said they thought it could be an enzyme or bacteria that is found in your digestive tract ?? and that it could maybe be from mom passed to baby or in baby. She didn't think it was anything bad but she was going to do a bit more research and let me know.

I thought it was odd as well and in all my years I have never seen something like this either.

Baby is 7 months. Healthy as could be and gaining weight, growing and developing right on track so no worries there.

[mema]

I too have read about some bacteria that mother carries and it transfers to baby from breast milk. When the baby drinks, some of the bacteria goes back into the bottle-like backwash-and reacts with the formula.

I think it was on Mystery Diagnosis.

Hope they can figure out what it is. That is so weird.

[Oneluckymom]

serratia marcescens* ?? Worth looking into maybe.

[Blackcat31]

serratia marcescens* ?? Worth looking into maybe.

WOW! From what I read so far about it, it does sound as if it 'could' be serious if not addressed.

I will have to show the links I found to mom and see what she says.

I can't find anything though about whether it is something that is a risk or danger to the other kids or spreadable at all. I would sure hate to have some kind for outbreak happen...kwim?

[MNMum]

I'm a NICU RN and a Lactation Consultant, La Leche League Leader. I've never heard of bright pink spit up - except for a baby who has been given a medication. Since these parents seem to be "naturalists", maybe they are giving some kind of herbal or natural supplement - I would ask that specifically. There are enzymes in breastmilk that can change how it looks/smells, but I have never heard of pink? I see the parents point on the tap water, maybe they are concerned about child getting enough flouride. But it would be worth it to try bottled water for a couple weeks to see if it is the water source. The bottled water won't have lasting effects if used for a few weeks.

[Blackcat31]

I'm a NICU RN and a Lactation Consultant, La Leche League Leader. I've never heard of bright pink spit up - except for a baby who has been given a medication. Since these parents seem to be "naturalists", maybe they are giving some kind of herbal or natural supplement - I would ask that specifically. There are enzymes in breastmilk that can change how it looks/smells, but I have never heard of pink? I see the parents point on the tap water, maybe they are concerned about child getting enough flouride. But it would be worth it to try bottled water for a couple weeks to see if it is the water source. The bottled water won't have lasting effects if used for a few weeks.

Oh I am soooo glad we have someone on board with your knowledge!!!! happyface

I googled serratia marcescens in breastmilk and got all kinds of links about a bacteria that can cause bright pink staining. Here is one particular story about it http://www.encyclocenter.com/Pink-Breast-31660.html

Would you mind taking a look at it and give me your opinion? I would really appreciate it...I am just really nervous now that it could be serious or could be no big deal...kwim?

[Breezy]

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/21/1/8.abstract

[SilverSabre25]

I too have read about some bacteria that mother carries and it transfers to baby from breast milk. When the baby drinks, some of the bacteria goes back into the bottle-like backwash-and reacts with the formula.

I think it was on Mystery Diagnosis.

Hope they can figure out what it is. That is so weird.

serratia marcescens* ?? Worth looking into maybe.

That's what I was thinking! I did some googling and came up with the same answer. I knew the neon pink spots sounded familiar!

Mom should probably take herself and bubs to the doctor...armed with the self-diagnosis. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out, if you can.