Breastfeeding after Reduction Surgery –
You Can Succeed
By
Barbara Behrmann, Ph.D.
Robin spent her high school and college years
becoming increasingly self-conscious about her
breasts. Relatively thin, her breasts were a
34DD. After considerable thought, she decided
to have breast reduction surgery. At the time,
of course, I didn’t care much about
breastfeeding,” she recalls. “Marriage and kids
were down the road and I didn’t know of the
benefits of nursing. But when I got pregnant
with my first child and began to read everything
I could about pregnancy and childcare, suddenly
breastfeeding meant the world to me and I wanted
to give my son nothing less than the best.”
After his birth, Robin tried hard to nurse him,
but despite her best efforts and the help of a
lactation consultant, her son lost 10% of his
birth weight. Even a hospital grade breast pump
wasn’t able to help her increase her supply.
Feeling defeated and guilty, she returned to her
pediatrician.
"That was the best move I made!" she says.
"Although the doctor agreed that I wasn't
pumping all that much, he said, "So what?
You still get the benefits of nursing your baby
and he still gets the benefits of bonding and
nurturing. So what if you need to
supplement him as well? Don't deny
yourselves the benefits of breastfeeding because
of this!"
She didn't. She continued to nurse, pump,
and supplement with formula. And in the
end, she ended up nursing her son for 14 months.
Three years later she went through the same
thing with her daughter. This second time
around went a little easier, and by seven months
she was able to completely stop supplementing
her. "I'm proud that I stuck with it," she
says, "and glad that I didn't listen to all the
negative comments I heard along the way...Once I
experienced my son suckling at my breast, it was
absolutely magical and I wanted to hang on to
that."
Like Robin, many women who have had breast
reduction surgery discover that breastfeeding
isn't as straightforward as it is for the
majority of women. Even though doctors
often assure women they can still breastfeed,
their assertion can be misleading.
Many surgeons interpret breastfeeding as the
ability to produce any milk, regardless
of whether or not a woman will have to
supplement with formula. This is quite
different from the ability to breastfeed
exclusively with an ample supply. Thus,
many surgeons minimize the impact reduction
surgery often has on breastfeeding.
The fact is, many women do experience subsequent
difficulty producing enough milk. But that
doesn't mean you can't nurse. Here are
several things you can do to have a more
satisfying experience.
●Contact
BFAR, Breastfeeding After Reduction, an
organization that provides information and
support to women who wish to nurse after having
had breast reduction surgery. It also helps
educate health care providers on the subject.
BFAR is on the web at
http://www.bfar.org/index.shtml.
●Gather
support ahead of time and attend
breastfeeding support groups. There might be
one available at your local hospital or birth
center. On-line support groups can also be a
godsend. One place to check out is MOBI,
Mothers Overcoming Breastfeeding Issues.
http://www.internetbabies.com/mobi/
La Leche League, too is an excellent resource
for information, support, and motivation.
www.lalecheleague.org.
●Many
of the semi-automatic and double breast pumps
sold at chain stores don't provide enough
stimulation to release the milk and may cause
you discomfort or pain. Instead, purchase
or rent a good quality electric breast pump to
boost your milk supply.
www.artofbreastfeeding.com is an excellent
resource for information on breast pumps.
Also visit
www.medela.com or
www.ameda.com.
both sites offer lists of rental locations..
●Shrug
off those who have the baby's best interest at
heart, but offer criticism instead of support.
When you're struggling emotionally and
physically, negative comments fuel insecurity,
not confidence.
●Women
report varying degrees of success using herbs to
enhance their milk supply. Fenugreek,
blessed thistle, fennel, raspberry leaf, and
nettles, are among them. Dr. Jack Newman
offers good information on this. You can
access it at
www.breastfeedingonline.com. Click on
either fenugreek or handouts by Jack Newman,
M.D.
●Get
a copy of Defining Your Own Success:
Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction
Surgery by Diana West, published by La Leche
League International, Schaumburg, IL. It's
the most comprehensive book on the subject.
●Finally,
remember that nursing brings many benefits that
have little to do with the milk itself.
And for those who make it through some rough
times, the rewards can be great. As one
mother says, "When I look down into his peaceful
face while he nurses, dozing off at the breast,
relaxed and calm, there is no doubt in my mind
that despite all the crap I had to deal with, it
has definitely been worth it."
Back to Barbara's
Articles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barbara L. Behrmann, Ph.D. is a writer, researcher, and author of
The
Breastfeeding Café: Mothers Share the Joys, Secrets & Challenges of Nursing,
University of Michigan Press, 2005. She is a frequent speaker around the
country and is available for talks, readings, and conducting birthing and
breastfeeding writing circles. The mother of two formerly breastfed
children, Barbara lives in upstate New York. |
