lump/cyst removed 8 years ago, will I be able to bf?

[cravingcake]

I had a large cyst (scar is 2 inchs) removed from one breast about 8 years ago and I've always just assumed that I would be fine to bf when the time came. Well with 8 weeks till my due date I have started to wonder if this is the case, does anyone have experience of this, or know of any potential problems, or who best to speak to about this. Thanks.

I think as long as the nipple wasn?t moved (and unattached from the milk ducts) you should be ok, but may be worth speaking to a bfc to check?

One thing to consider is that it's perfectly possible to feed from one side only, so if there was too much damage then you can consider this.

However, I would be interested in looking into whether there's more of a risk of blocked ducts if there is some damage to ducts. This is out of my area of knowledge - you'd need to speak to a BFC (at least) or maybe an IBCLC - and have information on exactly what was cut through from your medical notes.

I hope everything works out for you. You'll always get help on here if you need it - just keeping asking :)

Thank you both, I'm not up to speed with the teminilogy (and cant spell either :o ) but is BFC a breast feeding counsellor/consultant? I have no idea what an IBCLC is, please could you tell me, and (sorry to be really thick) how/where do I find one?

I'm under shared consultant/mw care and my next appt is in 2 weeks with consultant, I will ask them then about what was cut through exactly as they will have all my previous medical notes.

BFC is a breastfeeding counsellor ? you?d be able to find one through the NCT, ABM or LLL. An IBCLC is an international board certified lactation consultant; www.lcgb.org/

Sorry, being brief, am busy!

I had a lump removed - similar length of scar - I had no problems (in fact, that was the 'good' side that didn't crack!)

BFC = breastfeeding counsellor, which is specifically a term for someone who has completed the diploma level course with the ABM, LLL or NCT (NCT gives a diploma but the others are the same level). Some people call themselves BFCs but aren't actually qualified so it's worth checking.

IBCLC = International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. More medically trained, normally, than a BFC, and this is really a higher-level certification even than BFC.

You may need one of these to help work through the details of the breast trauma because your consultant may not know much (or anything) about breastfeeding. S/he MAY of course be excellent - but it's worth knowing that many know very little as it's virtually non-existant in an Obs' training, so unless they've done courses separately their knowledge may be limited to their personal experience.

X-post with Cos.

Brilliant, thank you. Hopefully it will all be ok (like Mistlethrush - fingers crossed) but will definitely track down and speak to a BFC, and possibly an IBCLC sooner rather than later.

I had lump removed, 2inch scar, that's the side with the most milk/ fastest letdown. I had lots of issues establishing bf, none of them scar related.

Just thought I would update. My DS is now 5 weeks old and breastfeeding well. The side where the lump was removed is a bit slower and doesnt seem to produce quite as much milk as the other but my little one is gaining weight well and I've not had any problems with cysts or blocked ducts.