BF after breast reduction?

[Sri Radha]

Can you breastfeed after a breast reduction? I had one of my breasts reduced about 10 or 11 years ago. I don't remember what the doctor said about it. Has anyone here had a reduction and then went on to BF successfully?

[Singfourever@yahoo]

It's different for everyone I think. I had a bilateral reduction when I was 19. My first son I gave up BF'ing at nine days because I had low-supply and didn't ask for support.
My second son, we are still going at almost seven weeks. In the beginning I had to supplement after pretty much every feeding. We can go now about five hours between bottles during the day, with bf'ing in between and we've been able to go a couple nights now with no bottles. It's very frustrating to work so hard and still have to give formula. It's worth it though to have that bf'ing relationship.
There are some women who can exclusively breastfeed though. So give it a very good shot and definitely don't assume you won't be able to. Go to BFAR.org for more information. Plus, with one fully-functional side you should be able to feed just fine even if you have no supply in the reduced side. Good luck!

[sunnysideup]

Women have differnet levels of success with breastfeeding after reduction--it depends on how the surgery was done.

If you had a reduction on only one side, there is a good chance you would have no problems with breastfeeding. It's not unusual for women have good success nursing exclusively on one side, so even if your reduced side doesn't produce much, the other side will probably be able to keep up with demand.

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMayJun02p92.html
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/surgery.html

[CathMac]

BFAR website and book - links enclosed

Sunnysideup,
I'm not a BFAR mom but I did find the Breastfeeding After Reduction (BFAR) book (link below) in my LLL library and it was a really good source of information for the supply issues I had as a Working and Pumping mom.

Each chapter stars with a BFAR Mom's account of their success. The stories range from women who bring in a full supply pretty easily to women that fight for every ounce and need to supplement. Every story was an inspiration to me.

The second link is to the related website. I don't know if they have any sort of forum.

http://www.bfar.org/
http://astore.amazon.com/bfar-20/det...801502-4206562

I hope you are one of the lucky ones that has little or no difficulty BF'ing but I would encourage you to nurse even if you can only have a partial supply.

Interestingly, nerves can "re-enervate" and ducts can become more functional and you may have a greater supply with subsequent nurslings.

~Cath

[katie9143]

fyi - i just saw another thread on the reg bfing thread i think about this....i believe the title was something like needing a pep talk or something...but they were using the acronym bfar if you want to use the search function....and there were lots of links that people had posted in that thread too!!

goodluck!

[Sri Radha]

Thanks. I have been looking at bfar's website. I think the best thing I can do is try to find a LC thatr has experience with breast reduction when the time comes! I will eventually order the book from bfar, too!

[CathMac]

Good luck

Sri Radha,
On behalf of any BFAR moms that may subsequently come here looking for info, can I ask you to drop by and let us know how you're doing?

Good luck.
~Cath

[RoadWorkAhead]

Just wanted to share. I am nursing #2 after bilateral red. I had 6 yrs. ago. #1 had issues at birth and we fought supply issues for a bit but went on to nurse successfully for 24 months + some, all supply issues related to a bad IBCLC and NICU experience. With #2, I knew what to do and I now am nursing with no supplementing AND pumping 10-12 oz. a day for a friend's child no problem. If DD couldtolerate the herbs, I could probably get closer to 20 o. a day extra!! It is totally doable and if you need any support PM me...I've totally BTDT

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by Kierdan'sMom

... #1 had issues at birth and we fought supply issues for a bit but went on to nurse successfully for 24 months + some, all supply issues related to a bad IBCLC and NICU experience. With #2, I knew what to do and I now am nursing with no supplementing AND pumping 10-12 oz. a day for a friend's child no problem. ... ...I've totally BTDT

Kierdan'sMom,
My issues as a Working & Pumping mom were relatively minor but I did read BFAR for info on boosting supply. I was so moved and inspired by the stories at the beggining of each chapter.

I just want to add that the BFAR subtitle "Defining Your Own Success" alludes to the fact that not every BFAR mom will bring in a full supply but that even a partial supply is significant; and that that supply may increase with each subsequent nursling. Partly because mom is more knowledgeable and experienced but possibly because of reenervation and regeneration of nerves and ducts.

Thanks for sharing your story and setting a great example.
~Cath

[orca]

Hi there, another BFAR mom here. I thought I’d put a few links up for those of you who are interested. I had an appointment with Jack Newman today (I live in Toronto and wanted to ensure I had a better plan when this baby arrives any day now...) and he had some very interesting advice that was totally contradictory to what I had been given for DS. He was adamant that I NOT use a breast pump this time and that I only put the baby to the breast for the first few weeks. His logic was that the baby is a much better pump than any hospital grade pump and since I was able to produce milk for DS, but had let down and supply issues, keeping the baby at the breast without the constant stress of a pump was a much better plan. I got loads of information from him and it was an exceptionally educational clinic. He has heaps of lactation consultants there and he basically looked at my breasts, expressed colostrum and prescribed Dom as well as a recommendation to begin Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle the day the baby is born. There were so many mothers there with their newborns and he had each of us sit in on a nursing session with another mom to watch how he did slight adjustments to improve latch etc. He’s really big on the latch and convinced that everything comes down to that. Anyway, I could rave on and on, but thought I’d let you know that you can email him directly and he’ll email you back personally (unbelievable- I know). He attached all kinds of files with chapters from his new books about BFAR and his “protocol” . His website has great info as well. I also was introduced to a lactation consultant at the clinic who works in my area so she’ll come to my house once the baby is born!

I was also amazed at how supportive the entire clinic was of homebirthing and cosleeping!:

Here’s to hoping things go better this time around!!

www.drjacknewman.com