I have breastfed two children with no troubles to speak of. Now, however, I have a surprise pregnancy, and I have had saline implants for three years. Will I be able to breastfeed?

Congratulations on your little surprise! I am optimistic about your chances of successfully breastfeeding this little surprise. Your breasts have successfully lactated and fed your first two children. This is a plus! The question is where did your physician make the incisions to insert the saline implants? If they were inserted under the breast fold or through your armpit, and placed under the chest muscles, the breast integrity was mostly left intact. Your chances of fully breastfeeding are high. If your surgeon inserted the implants through incisions around the areolas, there is a greater chance that the breast ductile system and the nerves connecting the breasts to the hormonal system have been severed. If that is the case, you will need to wait and observe the progression of your breastfeeding, carefully monitoring your little one to assure that he or she is able to obtain enough nourishment.
Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC