Can you Breast Feed after Breast Reduction Surgery?


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Undergoing breast reduction surgery, whilst you are still in your childbearing years can be a difficult decision as you may have to consider its effects on breast feeding. Having breast reduction surgery does not mean that it is impossible for you to breastfeed. However, it is possible that your milk glands will be damaged or removed and that breastfeeding will become difficult.

Can You Breast Feed after Breast Reduction Surgery?

As cosmetic surgery has advanced, surgeons have been able to make it possible to breast feed after having breast reduction surgery. In order for this to be possible, the surgeon must preserve as much milk- producing tissue as possible during the operation. The best way to do this is to move the nipple without completely severing it from the breast.

How Can You Breast Feed after Beast Reduction Surgery?

If you want to breast feed your children but have undergone breast reduction surgery you may experience some difficulty breast- feeding. Most of your milk ducts will have been severed during the surgery; however, some of these will reattach themselves during the recovery period.

When you first try to breast- feed, you may struggle to produce enough milk to breast- feed all of the time. This may be because your nipples are not sensitive enough or because not all of your milk ducts have reattached themselves. There are some things that you can do to try to increase your milk production.

As your baby drinks more milk, your body will normally begin to produce more naturally. As a result of this, you may be able to stimulate milk production using a breast pump. This causes your body to produce more milk in between feeds. You can also try to stimulate milk production by massaging your breast and putting pressure on them this can cause more milk to be produced and ejaculated. It is also believed that by laying your baby on your chest so that you have regular skin contact can cause more milk production.

How Long Should You Wait For Before Breast Feeding after Breast Reduction Surgery?

You will not be able to breast feed whilst your breasts are still recovering from your breast reduction surgery. Your breasts will be tender and painful and it may take a while for the milk ducts to reattach themselves. There is no specific time at which you can start breastfeeding. The amount of time that it takes you to heal will differ from other people, as will the amount of time it takes before you feel comfortable breast- feeding.

What to do if you are Unable to Breast Feed after Breast Reduction Surgery

In some cases, it is not possible to preserve enough milk- producing tissue for you to breast feed. This can be extremely disappointing and as a result, you should be aware of the risk before you undergo breast reduction surgery. There is little that can be done to help you to breast feed if you are unable to. It may be worth talking to your midwife, as they will be able to assess your feeding technique and suggest options that could work better. If this does not help, it is unlikely that you will be able to breast feed. You should discuss other feeding options with a doctor or your midwife to ensure that you are using the best possible replacement for your own milk.

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