P78: Other perinatal digestive system disorders

P78.2: Neonatal haematemesis and melaena due to swallowed maternal blood

During or after the birth, the child can swallow the mother's blood. For example, blood can be swallowed when breastfeeding if the mother's nipples are injured.

The child might vomit up the mother's blood. The vomited blood can appear red, dark brown or black. The mother's blood can also be excreted via the child's stool. The stool can then look black.