Breastfeeding after a Mastectomy

[CaptKirkNZ]

Greetings all from New Zealand,
Just wondering if there's any tips out there for feeding with one boob! My mother jokes that the baby will be half starved but I have read the remaining boob compensates well, and then there's women with twins who have to share....
Anyway tips would be more than welcome, due end of February :

[PatioGardener]

Best wishes for the upcoming birth! and breastfeeding!

I think with one breast it would be important to make sure that there is a really good latch, to feed on cue (as often as the baby seems even a little bit interested!) to really establish a good milk supply, and to know that women successfully breastfeed twins, so there is no reason to think this won't be a great success!

The skin to skin contact after birth is so important for both you and your baby - have you made plans for this? Are you birthing at home? Is your midwife supportive of breastfeeding? Now is the time to assemble your support team!

[tanyalynn]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...n13456383/pg_1

Have you seen this article? It's actually published in Mothering but I couldn't get the link to work, so I googled to see if it was somewhere else online.

I don't have any personal experience, I just thought this article was cool. And one thought, maybe having a plan of action (like a list of ideas) for common (relatively speaking, I mean) problems like mastitis or plugged ducts.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Hi! More later

[MaryJaneLouise]

I would expect the best, but prepare for the worst. As you say, many women do just fine nursing twins, so you have a good chance of doing just fine.

Do what any other bfing mom should do -- go to a LLL meeting while you are pregnant, maybe search out a good LC before you birth.

Two challenges you might have are low supply, and extra nipple soreness / trauma. The stickie at the top of the BF challenges has good info & links to how to increase your supply. Don't let anyone bully you into supplementing before you are absolutely sure you have a supply problem, though. Losing up to 10% of your baby's weight is very normal for any newborn.

More later.