Breastfeeding twins after breast reduction, inverted nipples....any chance?

[Boomgoestheweasel]

This is a very pre-emptive post, I'm nearly 12wks with dcda twins (first babies) but I like to get info well in advance! Assuming all goes well, I would love to be able to breastfeed. However, I had a breast reduction about 4 years ago, and also have very inverted nipples. I can get them out with a lot of persuasion but they're reluctant, and when I say 'out' they're still very flat. When I had the breast reduction the consultant said he would 'fix' the inversion by cutting through some of the milk ducts (inversion apparently normally caused by short milk ducts). It didn't work, they're still inverted, but I presume some sort of internal disruption took place.

I'm aware that twins might pose their own difficulties anyway, but really I just want to know if anyone else has had a similar operation(s) and managed to successfully breastfeed or even express. Are there any positive stories out there?

Essentially you just don't know how it is going to go until you get there.

Bf twins is not a problem, your body produces milk on a supply and demand basis so can easily make enough milk. However, breast reduction can mean that your milk making clobber is reduced/removed/damaged. It all depends on how the surgery is done. From what you say there is a pretty clear indication that some damage has been done. How much you just won't know until you try to feed. You may find that one breast is better than the other. You may find you can mix feed even if you can't exclusively feed.

Your best bet is to get in early with the planning. Find your local support networks and ask to meet the infant feeding specialist MW in your area and make sure there is a plan in place for you.

Thanks Indith. I asked the mw at my booking appointment, she just said, 'well there's no point feeling guilty about not BF' by which I assume her opinion is that there's no chance and no point trying. I'll definitely try and get in touch with the specialist MW, and perhaps contact the consultant who did my op to find out exactly what he did (if only I'd thought about BF at the time...all I was worried about was not being a G cup!)

Hi OP, you're doing the right thing in thinking ahead. There is loads of help and support out there if you know where to look. Of course, it's difficult to know how much support and what kind of support you'll need until your baby comes, but even having a list of contacts to hand so you can call a helpline or whizz off to a peer support group is a great thing to do.

A word of warning - the average doctor receives only 20 minutes training in breastfeeding, and depending on when the doctor trained, their advice can be very outdated. Midwives and health visitors have more training, but like all people, their personal feelings can influence their advice - if you seek advice, make sure she has a reputation of being supportive of breastfeeding mothers.

The best support and advice will come from peer supporters and counsellors. Look out for NCT, BfN and La Leche League in your area. You don't need to be a member of their organisations to get support and it should be free. They can advise over the phone, they often run drop in sessions and can sometimes visit you at home.

There is often never one solution - it's a case of trying what works for you and your baby. If you get advice and it doesn't work, keep going back until you hit on a solution. They won't mind. And if it does work, go back and let them know. They will be delighted!

boom I should be seeing my friend (bf counsellor for the nct) next week so I'll ask her then. She generally seems to know everything there is to possibly know about bf!!!!

Agree that most HCP seem pretty uninterested in supporting bfing twins. It's not that they are against it but given bfing rates generally, the number of women who are having twins who want to bf is vanishingly small and they are unlikely to really have proper experience. Second having a LC on speed dial. My twins were both TT and I had them snipped privately on day 8 - I rang the LC when it was still in hospital as I was so disappointed with the care that I was given to help me get them feeding.

I found NCT bfing clinic very helpful in the first month. It was very reassuring to go along to a supportive environment even for a little while.

Good luck. I am still bfing my 8 month old twins so it can be done. Can't get them to stop!!

Is there any chnace you could get an appointment with your breast surgeon to talk through exactly what he did in your surgery? It might help you with your research in advance of their arrival.

Aw hello Kitty, thanks!

Free encouraging to hear of your success. Every chance mine will also have tt as DH has got a pretty obvious one (luckily doesn't affect his speech), it'll be one of the first things I check for! I'll try and contact the surgeon this week, although I suspect he'll be a hard one to get hold of, if he even still works at the same hospital..

Nancerama thanks for the pointers, I'm sure theres an NCT around here if not the others. Might give them a call and ask if there's someone I can chat to with some experience of post-op BF!