Breastfeeding After Reduction Surgery
If you previously had breast reduction surgery and are wondering if you can breastfeed, chances are that you can.
Successful breastfeeding after reduction surgery is possible for many women, depending on how the surgery was performed.
Any surgery to the breasts can damage nerves and milk producing ducts, which can diminish milk flow.
If your nipple and areola are still attached to breast tissue, you shouldn’t have much trouble nursing. But if your nipple was removed and placed on a reconstructed breast, you may have some difficulties.
If supply does become an issue, some women have been able to nurse their babies after reduction with the use of a supplemental nursing system (SNS).
An SNS allows your baby to suckle at your breast, stimulating milk flow and lactating hormones, as well as providing comfort for your baby and the benefits that come from nursing at the breast, while giving baby the nutrition s/he needs from supplemental milk.
Speak with your surgeon, a certified lactation consultant, and a La Leche League leader beforehand to discuss your chances of successfully breastfeeding after reduction surgery.
Take heart—this doesn’t have to be impossible. It also helps to reach out to other moms who have breastfed after reduction or other breast surgery. You can call a local La Leche League leader who can put you in touch with another Leader who has firsthand knowledge of your situation.
A must-have book often recommended for moms who will be nursing after reduction surgery is Diana West’s Defining Your Own Success.
Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery