Breastfeeding after breast surgery

Many women worry that after breast surgery they won’t be able to breastfeed, but often this isn’t the case. There are several factors that will determine whether or not you’ll be able to produce enough milk to nurse a baby – some women who’ve had breast surgery will need to supplement their baby’s diet with formula, while others will go on to produce enough milk to successfully breastfeed.

According to the Institute of Medicine, any type of breast surgery will increase the probability you’ll experience lactation insufficiency. Interestingly though, the 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey revealed that 96% of all new mothers try to breastfeed, but less than half of them stick to it for more than six months.

It’s important to recognise that sociodemographic factors can have an impact on a woman’s ability to breastfeed for the recommended six months after birth, and many women choose to supplement their babies’ diets to make up for lactation insufficiency.

The type of breast surgery you have will dictate the types of challenges you can expect to encounter while breastfeeding an infant. The main concerns regarding the impact of breast surgery on breastfeeding are the initial lack of milk glands or ducts prior to surgery, the removal of already low milk glands or ducts during surgery, and a disrupted nerve supply to the nipple and the areola.

If your surgeon knows in advance that you intend to become pregnant (even if it’s ‘someday’), he or she can modify their surgical technique to maintain the nerve supply and preserve milks glands and ducts during surgery.

Though breast augmentation surgery can have an impact on nursing, it’s sometimes the state of the breasts pre-surgery that can cause problems during breastfeeding. Breast size is not as much of a factor in determining the amount of glandular tissue that will be able to produce milk as the type and shape of the breasts before surgery. For example, tubular-shaped breasts, widely spaced breasts, undeveloped breasts, and breasts that are asymmetrical are less likely to produce sufficient milk for an infant even before augmentation surgery.

Breast reduction surgery tends to have a stronger impact on milk supply than augmentation and implants, especially if the nipples are relocated to a new position on the breasts.

Moving the nipple disrupts the nerve supply, which can negatively impact nursing. This type of surgery can also disrupt milk glands and ducts too, but during pregnancy gland tissue may regrow. Indeed, nerve tissues can regrow very slowly as well.

If you plan to get pregnant any time in the future, be sure to talk to your surgeon about how your breast surgery may affect your ability to nurse a baby. An experienced surgeon like Dr Choy can modify techniques and procedures to manage surgical outcomes, giving women a better chance of breastfeeding with minimal or no implications. After giving birth, a lactation consultant can also help you explore ways to increase your milk production.

If you’re thinking about breast augmentation or breast reduction, contact Dr Choy’s clinic today on (02) 8962 9388 for a consultation about breast feeding after breast surgery.