I’m 19 weeks pregnant and starting to think about breastfeeding. I know it’s not easy for many women but apparently it’s harder (or, in some cases, not possible) if you’ve had breast reduction, particularly if it involved cutting around the whole circumference of the areola.
I’m 37 and had breast reduction 20 years ago. At the time the surgeon told me about the risk of it affecting breastfeeding but he minimised it a bit (saying that there was “no guarantee” a woman would be able to BF even without surgery) and to be honest I was 17-18 and didn’t really think much about it.
I’m a doctor (not obs&gynae or breast specialist though!) so I started doing some research on this. It seems that some women are able to BF but not exclusively - which I would be fine with. And the chances of being able to BF get better with time after surgery as your nerves and blood vessels supplying the nipples can regenerate. I lost all sensation on my nipples for a few years after surgery, but part of it came back, and I can feel touch and pain, but not temperature.
I’d love to hear experiences of others who also had breast surgery and tried to BF after. How did things go for you?
I’ll be booking an appointment with a BF consultant when it gets nearer my due date, but I would appreciate hearing others’ experiences thank you
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Breastfeeding after breast reduction
14 replies
Mcmcmcmc · 12/05/2021 00:42
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