Breast feeding after reduction surgery

[squishy]

Someone recently gave me a link to the BFAR site and am waiting for a response from them, but I'm seeing my GP for an ante natal appointment this Friday and am determined to see if they can refer me to anyone who can give more help than "not able to breast feed". It seems the type and extent of my operation (11 years ago) is less likely to enable me to feed than the less drastic and more recent ones.

Am more than a little fed up with all the "breast is best" malarky - I know that! But also rather upset when going through breast cancer screening (Mum had it an an early age as did a paternal cousin and paternal grandmother) to be told that not breast feeding further increases my risks (they were quite high enough already !).

No-one had mentioned this to me and am more focussed to not allow them to fob me off - someone suggested a breast feeding counsellor, but I don't have any spare cash - has anyone got an idea of who I could ask my GP to refer me to?

Any advice or guidance gratefully received.

Tiktok is a breast feeding counsellor, you may get her shortly.

Update: I've now ordered the recommended book and found out a lot more, but still no idea who to ask my GP to refer me to for further information (UK based) and/or support. I know there's little that can be done before the birth, but I understand that there are some things that can be done and that need preparation.

Any help gratefully received

squishy, not really my specialist area, sorry - the bfar site is the best place on the web, as far as I can tell. But in my experience, mothers after reduction are no more likely to have problems than anyone else - many people's surgery has been carefully done, and the ducts are not severed and the nipple is not placed elsewhere, but from what you say, your surgery was different.

I don't think your needs for knowledgable, sensitive support are different from any other mother's, but I don't know of anything that prepares you for bf antenatally other than getting informed!

Breastfeeding counsellors from the voluntary organisations are volunteers and do not charge for their help (though there are a few lactation consultants in private practice around). Your midwife should know the options, or call one of the helplines.

It is true that not breastfeeding is a risk factor in breast cancer, pre-and post-menopausal.

Godd luck getting the help you need.

Squishy, I think I have posted to you before, I did bf after reduction with both sons, albeit a short time. Did get very depressed when I had to stop with ds1 -couldn't even listen to, or read anything at all to do withbf.

I hope you get the help you want, just wanted you to know there is someone out there who has gone through the same.

none suggested counsellors to me, and I wish they had fight fight fight

Thanks for the encouragement. Am fighting and have to say have got the bit between my teeth because I've been blocked and told (by all the practitioners, including the consultant who did my op) that it wouldn't happen!!! So they'd better watch out!!! Guess it's not as common in this country as the US hence lack of awareness/support? Dee, sorry you had such a tough time, but thank you for your support.