Yahoo Lifestyle Can Breast Implants Affect Breastfeeding?
If you’ve invested in a new pair of boobs, you may be somewhat anxious once pregnant that your implants might get in the way of breastfeeding or the production of milk.
Breast Implants
The possibility of breastfeeding after breast implants depends on a number of surgically related factors to do with the type of breast augmentation. Generally speaking, if the incisions were made under the fold of the breast or under the arm, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Having implants “does not change a woman’s ability to breastfeed”, says Dr Graham Sellars, president of the NSW chapter of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.
“Usually implants are placed behind the breast glands and incisions are made under the fold of the breast or through the armpit, which shouldn’t cause any damage to feeding ability,” he says.
However the “smile” method, which is a cut underneath the areola, is more likely to jeopardise breastfeeding – mothers who have had this type of surgery are more likely to report issues with supply than nursing mums who haven’t had breast implants.
One possible reason for this is that the surgery might have damaged the ducts responsible for producing and transferring milk. Another is that the implant may be putting pressure on the breast tissue.
Dr Sellars says he would advise women contemplating breast augmentation to wait until after they’ve finished having kids because of the changes that happen to breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Breast reduction
Undergoing a breast reduction is more likely to have an effect on a woman’s future ability to breastfeed.
“I would say that one third will not be able to breastfeed, one third will be able to but not adequately, and the other third will have no problems. I advise every woman planning this procedure to expect not to be able to breastfeed successfully, ” says Dr Sellars.
This is due to the fact that some of the glandular tissue of the breast is removed during the procedure in order to reduce the size of the breast.
Lactation consultants can advise the best way to boost supply if you’ve undergone a breast reduction, including tips on pumping, massage and possibly prescriptions to help boost your supply.
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