What is reduction mammoplasty?
Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammoplasty, is a procedure that reduces the size of a woman’s breasts; this is an outpatient procedure, and typically there are few complications.
Women with large breasts can experience much discomfort due to the strain of the weight of their breasts, such as pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. Some women even suffer from poor posture, herniated disks, negative body image, self-consciousness, and constant or persistent headaches. These are a few of the many reasons why breast reduction surgery is so popular. If you’ve had this procedure, you may be a little concerned about breastfeeding after breast reduction.
Breastfeeding after breast reduction
Typically, breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery is possible; great news for so many mommies who want to provide nature’s best nutrition to their children! Lactation capacity seems to be the most commonly affected aspect of breastfeeding for women who have had a reduction surgery, but it is important to keep in mind that every single drop of breast milk you can add to baby’s diet counts! Successful breastfeeding is any attempt to breastfeed your child.
If your nipple was removed, and then replaced on a reconstructed breast, you may have some damaged nerves, milk ducts, and breast tissue. Your physician and/or lactation consultant will be able to help you determine the extent of damage done (if any). It will be hard to gauge how much milk you are able to produce until you are actually lactating and breastfeeding your child.
Take things slow
Once you have made it to three days postpartum, you can try pumping for five minutes on each breast after each nursing session to establish and build your milk supply. An electric pump that can pump both breasts simultaneously is recommended to help stimulate your natural letdown reflex. Breast pumps can be extremely costly but may be covered by your insurance company per the Affordable Care Act.
Read about breastfeeding with breast implants.Information provided in blogs should not be used as a substitute for medical care or consultation.