Surgical removal of milk ducts on one side

[cardamomginger]

Am in early stages of pregnancy, so am possibly running ahead with myself here, but I like to be prepared (ha - famous last words I am sure!)
A couple of years ago I had a benign lump surgically removed from my left breast and the surgery involved complete removal of all breast ducts. So breast feeding on this side will be impossible. My milk glands are still in place, so I assume that I will still produce milk? But where does the milk go, if it can't get out? Do I reabsorb it? If I breast feed on the right side, will this trigger production on the left side? Am going to ask my surgeon, but thought I'd post as well in case anyone is in a similar situation.

I think your surgeon would know better. But the milk could be reabsorbed. Plenty of mums do feed a baby on one side only (if bf is what you want to do), and the other breast settles down and stops making milk.

Thanks! Am new to all of this and had these daft images going through my head of breast feeding from the right side whilst the left just gets bigger and bigger and more and more engorged....

You will reabsorb the milk on that side, in the same way as a woman who chose not to breastfeed from scratch would do.

You will be able to breastfeed on the other side. But you need to be prepared for some discomfort while the left side settles down. This will be the case whether or not you choose to breastfeed.

I think you need specialist advice and preparation in advance - have you contacted any of the breastfeeding charities?

Bottom right of the screen you will find a section on "Babies: useful Mumsnet stuff", and if you open up "Breastfeeding" and scroll down that screen, you will find a list of telephone numbers for the breastfeeding charities. They really are fantastic helpers! You don't need to be breastfeeding to access them.

Thanks Candles! Will give the breast feeding charities a go. I'm only 7 weeks (really am running ahead of myself!) so have some time to sort this out