Breast Feeding After Breast Reduction Surgery

Breastfeeding might sound like an easy thing but ask a new mom, and she will tell you how confusing it can be. Sometimes, there is difficulty in the baby latching onto the breast, or the baby doesn't get enough milk, or it is hard to find a comfortable breastfeeding position. Adding breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery to it can make it significantly more stressful and complicated. Keeping a few things in mind and considering the reasons to undergo breast reduction can make breastfeeding after breast reduction much easier for a new mom-to-be. In this blog, we have explored how breast reduction may affect the ability to produce milk and breastfeed in the future. 
 

What are the Reasons for Having Breast Reduction Surgery?

Women with heavier breasts than others often wish to have smaller or manageable sized breasts through breast reduction surgery. A breast reduction surgery for such women can become a major, life-changing decision owing to the physical and emotional challenges faced by women with heavy breasts. While, like most other procedures, a breast reduction surgery is not without its risks, it is considered to be a safe and effective way to reduce the size of breasts to make them more manageable and comfortable for the women undergoing this surgery.         

Women who struggle with larger breasts causing physical and psychological distress may choose to opt for breast reduction surgery for one or more of the following reasons: 

• Chronic pain in the back, shoulders, neck, or head often requires medications for relief. It may even lead to compression and neuropathy in extreme cases. 
• Postural changes and strain on the back due to the heavy weight of the breasts.
• Frequent rashes and breakouts in the skin underneath the breasts due to skin friction and recurrent infections resulting from constant sweating under the breasts.
• Difficulty in exercising or participating in sports due to heavy breasts, which may be tough to hold in place, causing strain on the shoulders.
• Inability to find clothes or undergarments that fit perfectly.
• Becoming self-conscious and embarrassed in public, especially in younger women due to larger sized breasts.

In addition to these issues, women with heavier breasts may also experience breathing difficulties or trouble sleeping due to the weight of the breasts. The immediate benefits of a breast reduction surgery can be life-changing, and may improve a woman’s quality of life significantly. However, several women undergoing breast reduction surgery for the reasons discussed above often wonder how it may affect their ability to breastfeed afterwards.

Can You Breastfeed After Breast Reduction Surgery?

In one word, yes. It is absolutely possible for someone to breastfeed despite having undergone breast reduction surgery. However, it is not without its own set of unique challenges. A breast reduction surgery involves the removal of a significant amount of fat, and skin along with some milk-producing tissues to achieve the desired size of the breasts. This may leave such women with severed connections between the nerves and the existing milk-producing tissues.

It has to be noted that the amount of milk produced during breastfeeding depends on the amount of milk-producing tissues. This is relatively constant among women, even in those with bigger sized breasts. Hence, reducing the size of the breasts doesn't impact the amount of milk production. The difference in milk production after breast reduction surgery may be noticeable depending on how much the connection between the nerves and the milk-producing tissues has been affected. 

It may be beneficial for women before undergoing breast reduction surgery to discuss their desired breast size and their plans to breastfeed in the future. This can help surgeons optimize the preservation of milk-producing tissues by determining the right course to make incisions for tissue removal and how much to move the nipple for comfortable breastfeeding in the future.

How Long After Breast Reduction Surgery Can Women Start Breastfeeding?

It may take up to two years to heal from a breast reduction surgery as the nerves regenerate. In case the milk ducts are severed during the surgery, they may recanalize and reconnect with one another or develop new pathways to transport. However, there are no guaranteed claims that the milk ducts or pathways will heal optimally. So, it is important for women to undergo breast reduction surgery keeping in mind their plans to get pregnant. 

It is important to note that breast reduction may not be performed on women who are already breastfeeding, lactating, or are pregnant. Therefore, it is advisable to get pregnant only after about two years after the surgery to avoid any complications with breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Tips for Women Who Had Breast Reductions

Women who have undergone breast reduction should understand the strategies to increase milk production. The first two weeks of the postpartum period are the most crucial for lactation. The more a baby is breastfed during this time, the more likely the breasts are to be stimulated to enhance the mother’s milk-producing capacity. It is possible that the baby may find it difficult to latch on during the initial few days. Mothers may consider using a breast pump to maintain the stimulation. 

It may also be beneficial for mothers to seek advice from lactation experts with the knowledge or experience in helping breastfeeding mothers who have undergone breast reduction surgery. They can offer significant support and come with an abundant wealth of information about breast reduction and breastfeeding.

Mothers, with the help of lactation experts, may find it beneficial to try every method of increasing their milk producing capacity, which may include:

• Breastfeeding the baby
• Using a breast pump to keep up the stimulation of milk production
• Trying breast compression methods
• Trying relaxation techniques 
• Using herbal or organic products like Fenugreek 
• Using prescription medications, if required

Emptying the breasts is also important to enhance production and supply of milk. However, it is important to understand that successful breastfeeding doesn't necessarily mean producing a full supply of milk. Some mothers may find it beneficial to use supplemental feeding devices using formula milk. But it is always helpful to seek help from a breastfeeding medicine specialist to mitigate any possible complications that may reduce milk supply.