Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery
Annetjie Smith
Bonaero Park, South Africa
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 15 No. 2, March - April 1998, p. 43
We provide articles
from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and
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change over time
I had breast reduction surgery
in March 1990, and at the time I told the plastic surgeon that I wanted
to breastfeed if I ever had children. I became pregnant in December
1994 and even before I knew I was pregnant, my breasts became so heavy
and sensitive that I had to go out and buy bigger bras. I thought this
was a good sign that indicated that everything was fine and I would
be able to breastfeed. I visited my general practitioner when I was
20 weeks pregnant and then decided to go to an obstetrician for the
first time. I never discussed my breast reduction with my general practitioner,
but decided to check with my obstetrician.
What a shock I had when the
obstetrician told me that I would certainly not be able to breastfeed!
According to him, during breast reduction surgery, the nipples are totally
removed and then stitched back in the correct position, so all the milk
glands would have been disconnected and no milk would flow. That same
week I read an article in a magazine that confirmed what he said. This
was not what I wanted to hear, so I phoned the plastic surgeon who had
performed my surgery. He reassured me that I would definitely be able
to breastfeed.
My son Arno was born by emergency
cesarean on August 28, 1995, almost four weeks premature. He weighed
2.5 kg (5 lb. 8 oz.). I tried to breastfeed him as soon as possible
after birth, but could not get him to latch on. Several nurses came
to help me and although my problem seemed to be with the latch-on, each
one first checked my breasts for colostrum. They told me my baby was
probably too weak to stay latched on to my breast because he was so
small, and I should keep on trying. Fortunately, they didn't suggest
that I should bottle-feed my baby. I would have cried much more if I'd
had to cope with suggestions like that as well.
It seemed that I didn't have
enough hands to keep my baby on my breast. Luckily my husband, Ferdie,
was with me and he held the baby while I tried to keep my nipple in
our baby's mouth. On the second day after Arno's birth, my husband had
to return to work. I eventually found another feeding position that
I could manage with out Ferdie's help.
I struggled with very sore
nipples until Arno was seven weeks old. Arno was also colicky. I persevered
and was very proud to tell my obstetrician at my six-week checkup that
I was successfully breastfeeding my baby.
I returned to work part-time
when Arno was five months old and expressed my milk for the feeding
that I missed. I introduced solids when Arno was eight-and-a-half months
old, and until then I breastfed him without supplements. At fifteen
months I still expressed milk for him during the day. Arno is now a
toddler and we still enjoy a lovely breastfeeding relationship.
Editor's note: Annetjie's
experience shows that breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery is
a possibility. Medical evidence shows that for many women who have had
such surgery, breastfeeding may be difficult or impossible. However,
if the mother is unable to produce enough milk, breastfeeding can continue
with supplements.
Last updated 11/12/06 by jlm.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:28 UTC 2007.
