PARENT CARE MATTERS
Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery
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summary
After undergoing breast surgery such as a breast reduction, augmentation, breast lift, or diagnostic procedure, it is often possible to produce milk for your baby. You may plan to breastfeed on just one side after a mastectomy; making enough milk for a growing baby can be achievable with only one breast. The amount of milk you will make may range from drops to a full supply and will vary depending on the following:
Type of breast surgery
Type/location of incision
Reason for breast surgery
What your breasts looked like before surgery
Length of time since surgery
Your experience breastfeeding your baby after breast surgery is unique, and your success is not defined by the amount of milk you make. Furthermore, nursing, while amazing for its nutritional and immunological benefits, meets innumerable emotional needs for babies and lactating parents alike, regardless of the volume of milk produced. Early support can be greatly beneficial in meeting your goals for feeding your baby.
Equipment Needed:
Scale for assessing growth and milk transfer
Breast pump (optional)
Steps:
- A prenatal consult can be helpful when planning to breastfeed after breast surgery. If a prenatal consult isn’t possible, we recommend seeing your lactation consultant (LC) as early as you can after your baby’s birth. Your LC will ask you questions about your breast surgery and perform a breast exam so that you can discuss the implications of the surgery you underwent and make a plan for breastfeeding your baby.
- Plan to optimize your milk production. Some ways to do this include frequent milk removal after birth by breastfeeding and pumping, skin to skin, and hand expression. You may consider prenatal colostrum collection as a way to learn how to perform hand expression, reduce the need for supplementation after birth, and gain confidence in your ability to breastfeed your baby. You can find links to information about hand expression and prenatal colostrum collection in the resources section of this care plan.
- Make a plan for feeding your baby in the early days after birth. Your LC will help you come up with such a plan. Be sure to visit your pediatrician as frequently as recommended to track baby’s weight. You will work with both your LC and pediatrician to revise the feeding plan as needed.
- Track whether your baby is getting enough to eat by logging wet and dirty diapers, going in for weight checks with your pediatrician and LC, and observing whether your baby acts satisfied at the breast. Careful monitoring for adequate weight gain is essential. Be prepared to supplement with pumped milk, donor milk, or formula as needed.
Follow Up:
Follow up with your LC to track milk production and weight gain as well as to update your feeding plan.
Resources:
Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Surgeries BFAR.org
CDC Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/illnesses-conditions/breast-surgery.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/maternal-or-infant-illnesses/breast-surgery.html
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Breast Cancer and Breastfeeding https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bfm.2020.29157.hmj?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=Click+here&utm_campaign=BFM+PR+June+11+2020
Hand Expression Care Plan https://www.bfsuccess.com/breastfeeding-resources/breastfeeding-care-plans/hand-expression/
Hand Expression Video https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html
Prenatal colostrum collection https://www.bfsuccess.com/breastfeeding-resources/breastfeeding-care-plans/prenatal-colostrum-collection/
This and other how-to guides are available as free downloads
