Breastfeeding After a Breast Reduction.

[Dea]

HI, I hope I can get some info regarding breastfeeding after a breast reduction. I had the surgery 10 years ago, and I was warned that I may not be able to breastfeed afterwards, at the time it was a non-issue to me, but now, it's a major issue. (I was 19 at the time) I have done some research and all I've turned up is that it's a crap shoot. If the nerves were undamaged it should be okay, apparently. For some freaky reason I have more sensitivity now, than before my surgery. I want to know if anyone else has had the surgery and how breastfeeding went for them afterwards, and if there is anything I can do now (before I get pregnant) to increase my odds of being able to breastfeed.
thanks!

[Jwebbal]

The best resource I know of is www.bfar.org, the breastfeeding after reduction web site. Great source of help and information. Good luck with it.

[SleepyMamaBear]

i second going to BFAR.org. GREAT resource.
i will be a BFAR mama too, and plan to use an SNS or LA and donated milk for supplimenting.

[Hippiemommie]

I know a couple people who have nursed after a reduction with out supplimenting at all! Go to a LLL meeting before you have your babe and do some reading.

[smudge]

I had a BR 15 yrs ago at age 20. He took 2 1/2lbs off of each side. A LC came to see me in the hospital after DD was born and gave me some story about how the scar tissue had made my nips stiff and not stretchy. She thought that was a problem. Also, DD was a month early and her little mouth just could not get around a nip and she would suck formula off of the SNS alone. I never did get engorged, nor did I have any dripping milk that I could see. Maybe I don't have enough milk making tissue left.
You are right it is a crap shoot. If it works, great. If not, don't be too hard on yourself. My BR was the best thing I could have ever done for my psyche.

[jo22]

Become a member on the www.bfar.org. site. I can't say enough about that site. Many LC and LLL leaders don't have the experience with BFAR. Many different problems can arise d/t the BR that they will not know how to handle. This site offers the info and encouragement that are invaluableThis site has helped me too many times to count. The book is also nice to have on hand, but honestly I've learned just as much if not more on the website, so don't feel like you have to have the book. I had BR about 4 years ago and have been lucky to have a full supply. I only supplement d/t pain from the vasospasms every so often. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.
Goodluck

[violet]

I have a dear friend who had BRS and went on to exclusively breastfeed her first, nursed through the second pregnancy, and then tandem nursed. She worked hard to build a good supply with her first - she pumped and nursed and pumped, but ended up with such a fantastic supply that she wondered if it had all been necessary. But like the pp, all her research turned up was that it's very individual - some can bring in full supply, some partial, some can't really get a lasting supply. I second the LLL suggestion. Get yourself as much support as you can find/afford for the first few weeks to get your supply going and see what you can do!!! And know that ANY amount of colostrum/bm is so fabulous that it's worth the effort, even if it doesn't last as long as you might like. Happy nursing!

[Heavenly]

I'm going to bed right now but I will pm you tomorrow. Short summary I am breastfeeding TWO after reduction surgery. No I don't have a full supply, no it doesn't matter, you can still breastfeed 100% (ie. no bottles) with a lact-aid (www.lact-aid.com). I had about 70% supply with my first nursling (second child, I mistakenly belived I couldn't nurse #1) and used the lact-aid for 16 months. I conceived when she was 2.5 and am now tandem nursing after reduction surgery. The older nursling has just turned 4 and the baby is 10.5 months. I have about 70% supply with this one as well and the baby uses the lact-aid and probably will until 15-18 months like her older sister did. More tomorrow!

[siobhang]

I also really strongly recommend bfar.org - there is a great support forum and lots of resources.

The key is that you won't know your situation until after the baby is born and the first few weeks of nursing. You CAN breastfeed - it is just a question of how much (if at all) you need to supplement. There are ways of supplementing that maximize the amount of breastmilk your baby gets. The bfar ladies are very experienced at all the different tricks and techniques to build and keep your breastfeeding relationship for as long as you can - and for dealing with any obstacles that you may face.

I had a breast reduction in 1990 and my first child was born in 2003. I luckily had a full supply (and am tandem nursing two!) but it was only possible because of the encouragement and resources i found on bfar.org and Diane West's book "Defining your Own Success" - otherwise, the nurses and peds at the hospital were so negative that I probably would have given up.

Good luck and remember, every ounce of breastmilk is worth its weight in gold!

Siobhan

[Heavenly]

"I luckily had a full supply (and am tandem nursing two!) but it was only possible because of the encouragement and resources i found on bfar.org and Diane West's book "Defining your Own Success"

I just wanted to comment on this. I had the book and was on the bfar list and tried every galactogogue possible but I still could not have a full supply. It was just not possible for me. I am not saying its not great that you had a full supply, just saying sometimes you can know everything about it (which I did and do) but your body is not capable of producing more.

[siobhang]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

"I luckily had a full supply (and am tandem nursing two!) but it was only possible because of the encouragement and resources i found on bfar.org and Diane West's book "Defining your Own Success"

I just wanted to comment on this. I had the book and was on the bfar list and tried every galactogogue possible but I still could not have a full supply. It was just not possible for me. I am not saying its not great that you had a full supply, just saying sometimes you can know everything about it (which I did and do) but your body is not capable of producing more.

Oh, absolutely! I am sorry if my post seemed to imply otherwise.

The vast majority of bfar moms must supplement. Anecdotally, it seems approximately 30% of moms have full supply (there is no real research on this, the number is just based on various polls done on bfar.org). That means 70% have less than full supply.

The reality I had to come to grips with before I had ds1 was that 1. I would most likely have to supplement 2. but I would still be able to breastfeed, and 3. we wouldn't know how much supplement we would need until after the birth. This was a hard fact for me to deal with but I am very happy I did accept it before the baby was born. I was then in a mental place where I was prepared to fight for as much breastmilk as I could give.

We went to the hospital with an SNS, rented pump, and a plan. We knew about counting wet diapers and watching his weight. I knew I had to nurse round the clock and get a great latch. I had fenugreek and information on DPD on hand and weekly visits to my LC.

After several pretty intense weeks, it turned out I had a full supply. I am lucky and unusual. Both my LC and an LC friend had never ever met a bfar mom with a full supply before.

To reiterate what PPs have said, don't let anyone tell you that you can or can't breastfeed or what your supply will or won't be. You won't know until you are there. But don't make having a fully supply the definition of success - giving your baby as much breast milk as possible is important enough to fight for, even if supplementation is a reality for you.

Siobhan

[pugmommy7]

I bfar every day I used an lact aid with donor milk for the first 8 months,then *something happened* and we were ok.
I think it was the addition of food and the introduction of the sippy cup(water/juice etc)
my dd is the happiest little nursling I ever did see.
we have a yahoogroup for nursing after surgery called [e-mail] it is a great informal mail group. These mamas were indispensable to me when I was a newbie. Then the original bfar yhg went to forum format and I fell off. The yhg was more my speed.
feel free to join for support and sharing what has worked,not worked,comisseration etc.

[Dea]

You are all great! Thanks. Although I'm not yet pregnant, my husband and I are TTC now, and I start clomid tomorrow, and I don't want to have troubles later, after all of the troubles now. kwim? Anyhow I am off to check out the website,
thanks again!

[indeospero]

Hi there, BFAR mamas!

OP, there's good advice here. Get a copy of Diana West's book (borrow from your local LLL, maybe) and join the forum at bfar.org. You'll learn lots and have a place to go with questions and for support.

I did not have a full supply with my dd, and used a Lact-Aid to make up the difference until she was about 7 months old, when we were able to wean from it. She's still a very enthusiastic nurser now, at 18 months. BFARing can be difficult, even harrowing at first -- but it is so, so worth it.

Best wishes!