Breastfeeding after reduction

[ruthywolf]

ok I have another question, does anyone know about the likelihood of successfully breastfeeding after a breast reduction? I breastfed both my other children but I then had a reduction and I am worried I won't be able to breastfeed with this one, any ideas or insight??

[amberd5191]

I believe that you can breastfeed, you just may have to worry about it causing stretching. Good Luck!

[Lilu]

I had a breast reduction before I had my DD and I didn't know if my milk would come in or if I could breastfeed. So when I had her I didn't even try to breastfeed. 3 days after I had her, my milk came in and I could of tried but I didn't breastfeed.
Now I'm 24 weeks pregnant and excited to try breastfeeding. I hope that it'll work out.
I believe that you can breastfeed too.
I hope it works out for both of us.

[chellybeans]

i had a breast reduction years ago. now i want to nurse as well. my doctor has told me that it depends on the surgery you had. that if you have the keyhole incision with the circular scar around your nipple that would indicate they had to relocate your nipples. doing that may disrupt the milk ducts. you'll need to check with your surgeon to see if efforts were made to salvage them.

i cannot get in touch with my surgeon, but i know i have started secreting colostrum. i take that as a good sign.

check out the La Leche League website. they have some helpful info there.

[ruthywolf]

I will  check with LLL but I plan on trying either way, good luck to you guys too! I hope it works out even for a short time is better than not at all.

[kris123]

I think it is harder if you have a reduction, but I had implants and had issues with my son.  I have milk, but not a good supply.  I give him what I can.

[eeyore0274]

i had a major reduction when i was 18.  the answer is this:  if your nipples were "key holed" or basically shifted up you can breast feed (although some women need to supplement w/ formula if they have difficulty passing enough milk), but if they were removed and grafted back on (as mine were) you cannot breast feed.  unfortunately the scars look the same with either type of surgery, so if you cannot remember, then you definitely need to get a hold of the plastic surgeon or see if your regular physician has a record of it (they should)

sadly, even if yours were grafted you will think you may be able to breast feed because the tissue that was taken with the nipple still produces just enough milk to leak.  (i started leaking 2 months before having my last son, and kept leaking till he was about 4 months old) and yes either way you will fill with milk.  if you  were grafted this can be especially painful as you have NO ability to leak.  if you were grafted, bind yourself ASAP after childbirth (don't wait more than a few hours) if your state does not allow the shot to dry up your milk (NY wont give it even in special circumstances like mine).

[chellybeans]

wow, that's really helpful

[ruthywolf]

I am pretty sure they didn't actually remove the nipple, they moved it but did keep it attached. I also have sensitivity in them, so that's a good sign. I will see it I can contact the Dr to see for sure. Thanks for all you advice.

[fitzy11]

i'd like to ask everyone's opinion on their breast reductions if you don't mind sharing.. this is off the pregnancy/breastfeeding topic i know, and i apologize,. but i would really like to have one in the future and would love to hear success stories. thank you in advance.