Has anyone had sucess with breastfeeding after having a breast reduction?

Re: Has anyone had sucess with breastfeeding after having a breast reduction?

• The_Spanish_Inquisition

  January 2010

  If you page Cindy on the AP board, she may be able to give you some advice and info. She's successfully breastfeeding after a reduction.

  It can be done.GL!

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• cindy453

  January 2010

  hello! You can breastfeed after a reduction. But, you may have to have a different idea of "success" than exclusive BFing. There is an excellent book by Diana West called "Defining your own success" and it's all about breast feeding after reduction (also called BFAR). 

  I have a full milk supply. I didn't achieve a full supply until about 4 weeks. Looking back I think we would have been fine without the supplement, but I preferred to err on the side of too much rather than not enough. A hungry baby can't nurse well, inefficient nursing leads to pour intake, which leads to a drop in supply, etc. There are several methods of supplementation- you can do bottles first (so baby learns to be satisfied at the breast), you can do bottles last (so baby only tops off with the extra, but drains the breast first), or you can supplement at the breast.

  I started out with at the breast supping (with a medela SNS). It was making me a crazy person! It was hard to use, it took a long time, and I still had to pump afterwards to encourage my supply. I switched to bottle first supplementing- I offered an ounce or so and then would put her straight on the breast. I eventually went back to the SNS- it was a piece of cake once we were a bit more experienced with nursing. Basically, do whatever works for you at that time. Don't quit on your worst day, and if something is driving you nuts- stop doing it. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. 

  I did take some herbs to increase milk supply- fenugreek, mother's milk tea, and shatavari. I don't know that they really helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something. Don't be afraid to call a LLL leader- go to a meeting before your LO comes if you can. Learn about "normal" BFing behaviors, so that you won't always assume it's a supply problem (because trust me, for the first few months you will be convinced that your LO is hungry every time they cry!)

  Good luck, page me on the AP board if you have any questions  

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• beffysky member

  January 2010

  I had a reduction in '01 as well and have been able to breastfeed, though we do need to supplement with formula...for now DD gets a 1 oz. bottle after every time she nurses.  I have done a lot to try and get my supply up: More milk plus capsule, mother's milk tea, and pumping after every time DD nurses.  I spoke to a LL leader today who recommended Goat's Rue as something that specifically has helped women who've had reductions.  HTH!
  

  

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• NMAWALLACE member

  January 2010

  I had a reduction and I came here and received great advice. THANKS LADIES.  I'm still pumping ang Bf but I have to supplement about 3 times a day.  When you go in to deliver make sure you tell them that you had a reduction but want to BF.  They will make sure you get a pump to use during your stay.  I ended up getting a Medela Instyle  for free and I love it.  I was given a breast shield to help with an inverted nipple.  The lactation nurse was VERY helpful as I'm sure many of them are.

  I was told that because my nipple wasnt removed during my reduction I  would be fine to breastfeed.  It' took about 5 days but my milk came in.  it's still only about 1oz from each but I'm trying to pump a lot and get things going.  Good Luck!  It's one of the most amazing things to be able to do and the time spent with child is beyond describable.
  

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• NMAWALLACE member

  January 2010

  ohhh and you only need one breast to work so don't worry.
  

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