Breast reduction and SNS - baby refused the aid - help!

[Moopsy]

Hi all,

I'm sorry if my question has been asked before. I had a breast reduction 15 years ago, which went very wrong, and I had further 2 operations, which meant that I was told I would never be able to breastfeed...

so it was a massive shock when I started producing colostrum when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I tried to breastfeed her but she had to be put in special care the second day and she was not allowed to be fed, and sick with worry I just gave up pumping...

for my second one, I expected to get low milk supply so I bought a SNS. But my baby refused it. She hated the plastic tube sticking in her palate and rejected the breast whenever I would use the SNS. I tried really hard but I had no help or support in my area and the midwives started giving her bottles after the second day, which meant that after that she would only use the breast as a comforter and have no suction reflex. I tried to pump but would only get a maximum of 30ml and after 2 weeks I simply gave up especially as I also had my toddler to care for. My baby loved the breast to fall asleep on but it didn't work as she just didn't have any suction...

we are now looking at having a third baby and I really really want to establish breastfeeding but I just don't know what to do and where to start. Sould I try with SNS again? I have very small nipples, maybe that makes the plastic tube really stick out? Should I refuse bottles but insist on additional milk being only fed with the SNS? Should I pump? How often will I need to pump and feed? Could a breast shield help? I see on other forums and youtube that the SNS works wonders and I'd love that...

sorry for the lengthy message but I would love so much to finally be able to feed my little ones...

Thanks.

Every baby is diff. Talk in through with ure mid wife maybe see if u can see a peer supporter before the birth to get to know them
Yes refuse bottles, they can use a cup if dc isn't feeding to prevent confusion.
The recommendations for pumping us 8-12 times a day with no longer the 5 hr gap in between sessions. It's not fab as pumps are as effective as babies. Good luck. I found the support and advice from mw useful. Breast shells are handy to, they are plastic things that go In ure bra to catch the drips that can then be used in feeds, just helps boost the overall amount u get

I've had breast surgery (not a reduction) and have one badly damaged breast as a result. I do produce milk that side, but I don't think a baby could latch on that side now (toddler DD can't) and if there is milk production in that side I get recurrent mastitis. I'm still nursing my toddler DD and am pregnant, so when this baby is born I will be feeding DD and the baby, both from one side only. I am aware there may be potential problems with that, but I am going into it assuming I can, just like I went into BF DD assuming I could.

I think if I were you, I would assume I could EBF, but be aware there may be problems and keep a close eye out for any. Maybe have an SNS in case you needed it, but try just breast feeding at first as this is likely to result in the maximum your supply could be anyway and babies really do only need tiny amounts at first. You can always then use the SNS if you run into problems.

Of course, I'm not an expert, thats just what i would do and it would be a good idea to get advice and support from someone who is and is also a very strong advocate for breast feeding, maybe an international board certified lactation consultant or try La Leche League?

I had a breast reduction in 2004 & sadly my bf story didn't work out but I sill am not 100% sure if it was really me or just poor latching from DS.

I also produced colostrum but got pathetic pumping results. I tried fenugreek supplements for a bit & thought they helped but by that time I wasn't getting adequate pumping sessions in so don't know for sure if it was working.

My HV said at the time it may be that I produced milk but perhaps not enough. However, I also think I didn't do my supply any favours at the beginning because of the probs I had.

2nd time round I will do things differently:

Feed as soon as baby is born (and hope to god there are no latch issues!).
Then feed, feed, feed, feed to really give the milk supply a chance to kickstart.
If there are latch issues, double-pump after every feed attempt (double pumping is apparently better) until latching sorted.
Check for tongue tie & take LO to cranial osteopath if still latch issues.

I also recommend these books (which I sadly got given too late & wished I'd had at the start): 'What to expect if you're breast feeding..and what if you can't' by Clare Byam-cook
And
'Exclusively pumping breast milk' by Stephanie Casemore

I wouldn't suggest any books by Claire Byam Cook sadly, she is not at all knowledgable about breastfeeding or qualified in any way IIRC and has a very bad reputation as far as breastfeeding support goes.

Oh no! I didn't realise that - ok well ignore that recommendation then.

Thanks for your help ladies! Sorry for late reply as I was away.

I think the plan for me will be that I get baby on the breast as soon as born like for my other 2 and get him/her on the breast every hour or 2. And only accept SNS and no bottle at all! That ruined my dd2 latching reflex...

I don't feel I can EBF. I had so much surgery on my breast that it produces very little and it's already quite a miracle it still produces any so I will need to get ready to use a SNS but I hope it will be ok.

The only 2 problems left:

1. Get a good midwife to help fit the SNS and get baby to accept it. That's my biggest issue and I failed completely with my dd2. She just would not accept the SNS. She hated that plastic tube sticking into her palate...

1. Get pregnant lol

Thanks again!