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Expert Q&A
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| By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn. | ||
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I had breast reduction surgery four years ago and would really like to breastfeed my baby. Is there any way of knowing if there will be any complications before the baby's arrival?
As you may have guessed, breast reduction surgery can seriously affect a mother's ability to breastfeed, but not always. What kind of surgery did you have? If you're not sure, ask your surgeon. If your nipples were physically removed and then sewn back on, then the important nerves that control letdown and milk production were severed as well. There are other kinds of reduction surgery that do not sever those nerves, or at least not all of them.
Even if the nerves have been severed, it is still possible that you can breastfeed. In some women the nerves reconnect. You really won't know until your baby arrives.
In the meantime, learn all you can about how breastfeeding is supposed to work. Attend some La Leche League meetings and learn about good positioning and the signs that baby is getting plenty of milk. Find a La Leche League Leader or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) you can work with after the baby comes.
The idea is to learn as much about normal breastfeeding, so you can monitor what happens when you nurse your baby. That way you'll have a better idea if a problem comes up as to whether the problem is a typical breastfeeding one or one that is a result of your surgery.
Hope this helps!
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More Answers by this Expert
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- I'm flat-chested -- will I be able to breastfeed?
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