Breast feeding after a breast reduction, anyone done it successfully (or know anyone who has)?

[suwoo]

I have posted on a few peoples threads about this lately so decided to start my own self indulgent thread.

I had a breast reduction from a 30HH to a 30C in 1993 aged 19. I have had 2 children since and bf didn't work out. With DD it hurt and I was paranoid about my supply and had no information or support so gave up after 3 days. With DS, I didn't even try.

This time, I really want to be succesful, and thanks to MN and more RL friends who have bf, I feel ready and armed to give it a go. There is a bf cafe near me and I have read lots of info on kellymom. I have also seen that there are some medications that can increase your supply.

Both times, my milk did come in and I was very leaky for a week or so until it dried up, so I know I can actually produce milk.

Any success stories? (or not so successful ones ) or anything else you know of that may help me?

(Not due til August by the way )

Going to bed now, but bumping. It seems that the longer its been since your surgery the better, so thats good news.

Anyone??

Well done on being prepared to give it a shot Suwoo!

I don't know anything at all (sorry), but I would assume that the maiin risk would be that the actual production of BM would be inhibited by damaging some crucial area during surgery, and the fact that you can produce milk shows that this hasn't happened, so clearly BF is possible in some form.

You could try phoning one of the BF helplines (I'll find a link to the numbers if no one beats me to it), they'll be able to give you lots of info on any challenges you might face having had surgery.

Good luck!

Hi suwoo

I had a go at breastfeeding DD eight years after going from a 34 HH to a 34D (ah the relief!). Mostly unsuccessfully I?m afraid ? like you I was paranoid about lack of supply and had some basis for that paranoia ? no let down, no leaking, very little pumped, DD still seeming hungry after feeding (just one time!) for more than an hour.

Also DD wouldn?t latch, probably because of stitched-on nips and aforementioned supply, so that didn?t help.

I managed to mixfeed for about three months though so I?m fairly content.

Like you I want to be more successful if I have another little one and have a plan of action which includes? seeing if I can find out more about my reduction (what kind of cut, how many milk ducts were taken away) reading the Defining Your Own Success book (didn?t bother to before, wish I had), taking nipple shields to the hospital (I found them an absolute godsend when somebody finally told me about them), taking domperidone straight after giving birth and expressing and storing colostrum beforehand.

From my experience I found the internet v. helpful but bf counsellors much less so ? they didn?t seem to understand that I might have problems ? but I might have been expecting too much of them.

I really hope it works for you this time!

Thats brilliant lucysnowe, thanks (and to you hopefully of course).
this site is brilliant and is dedicated to bf after breast surgery. It says that the longer time that has elapsed the better and the more attempts at bf the better. It also says that becoming engorged should be viewed as a good sign. Are you going to approach the hospital lucysnowe? Wonder if I should do the same...hmm.

My nips feel really 'normal' I have way more sensitivity in them than I did pre surgery and they appear pretty normal too- so hopefully another good sign. Think I will investigate the meds and buy some shields. Thanks x

BF helpline numbers down the right of this page - i'm sure they'll be able to talk to you about practicalities.

Hi suwoo - interesting and reassuring what you are saying about time healing all wounds as twere - OTOH I have heard that surgeons tend to be better these days (when exactly?!) at keep the good tissue and ditching the rubbish stuff.

Normal nips are a good sign and I had the extra sensitivity too. I did find though that the actual nipple 'skin' was less flexible that it would be normally, thus making it harder to latch on to (my theory anyway). Absolutely go for the shields (Avent are better than Mothercare) but only use with major latching problems, obv. I recommend getting a really good breast pump too, if you are still looking into that.

I have approached the hospital today about accessing my info, so may persue that.

On the site I linked too, it said something about every menstrual period helps to renew the lactation tissue and every time you have lactated in the past that can increase your supply.

All positive stuff.

My hospital records were destroyed in 2003 apparently, so can pursue that no further.

suwoo - you asked me to post and here I am

Nothing to add - the website www.bfar.org is a good one, though.

Good luck with this - you are going to need to build up a lot of information and confidence, and support network, to overcome the previous memories, and it's great you are starting now.

Sorry- I see you already have that link.

Many thanks for that tiktok. Have you ever come across anyone who has bf after surgery?

lucysnowe - I think you may be expecting too much of us poor bfcs! We are good at support, we know lots about normal breastfeeding, but we are not trained in clinical issues. Very experienced bfcs may be able to discuss more clinical details, but very specialist situations are outside our remit, sorry.

suwoo - I am a very experienced bfc, but I only come across this issue occasionally. I have certainly known mothers who have had a reduction to feed perfectly normally - it's by no means a kiss of doom!

Thanks . I am staying positive and as well equipped as possible. Do you think domperidone and this would be beneficial?

suwoo - I don't know

Oh Tiktok, I thought you knew everything . I can be your study .

Hi tiktok ? yes, I probably am! I am always surprised in general when people aren?t as informed as the internet! I think though as a bfc though it is very important to find out as much as you can about the special circumstances surrounding a reduction and other operations (by reading the Managing Your Success book and the bfar website) since more and more women are becoming aware that it is possible to bf after reduction one way or another but are otherwise clueless about potential problems. I understand that it doesn?t come under your remit v. often though.
IME lots of possible advice can be similar to that given to mothers with low milk supply ? ie breast compression, feeding round the clock, positioning check, latch check, domperidone, pumping at four in the morning etc ? but there?s more specific stuff like the possibility of using one of those tube things with formula in that is taped to the breast so that the baby can have formula and bf at the same time. (Can?t for the life of me remember what it?s called. Suwoo that is another one for you.)

Cheers Lucy, I've read about them...my personal jury is still out on them though.

Just to add a postive story, my friend had a breast reduction at 18, she is still ebf her 11 months old as we speak!

Good luck!!

If your milk came in and was leaking then next time worth a shot?

Yes def! Nice to hear Hannah, thanks .

lucysnowe, thanks for your understanding!

Bfcs mostly know how to search for info, and in fact are expected to do their own research and background reading, in addition to their tutorials - a bfc should know about the BFAR website or at least manage to retrieve it. They should also know about nursing supplementers (the tube thing!).

But the more analytical and clinical stuff about medications, surgical techniques, when and the finer detail of how a nursing supplementer might be used in these unusual situations....no, not routinely part of our 'job' and actually, outside our boundaries because it's straying into the clinical, where we are not actually permitted to go.