By Emily Smith
I suppose my breastfeeding experience began 10 years before I actually gave birth. I was 17 years old and going through life with enormous breasts. I remember working at a fast food restaurant one evening after school, when a boys basketball team stopped in for dinner after a game. As I took their orders, thirty-some teenage guys stood in line, gawking at my breasts, and making jokes. It took all my courage to continue to take their orders and not burst into tears. That night I cried to my mom that I didn’t want to go through life with people never looking me in the eyes. She agreed to talk to my dad about breast reduction surgery.
I went to meet with a doctor soon after. He told me that surgery for me wouldn’t be considered cosmetic, but medically necessary due to the strain my breasts were causing my small frame. Although I was only 17, and breastfeeding was a far off event in my mind, I knew that I wanted to be able to breastfeed my babies. My mom had breastfed both me and my younger sister. So, I was raised in a home where nursing your baby was both natural and optimal. I asked him if I’d be able to and he told me I had a 50/50 chance. I didn’t realize, at the time, that there are different surgical techniques which improve the chances of breastfeeding. After my baby was born I’d read in Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery by Diana West that his response was pretty common. And that many times the surgeon may even mean my chances of lactation are 50/50, not of exclusive breastfeeding. I’m not sure if this information would have changed my mind about having the surgery at the time. But Ms. West’s indispensable book wasn’t published until 2001, four years after my surgery.
Ten years later, when I was about 7 or 8 months pregnant with Elora, I began to leak colostrum. Thrilled, I assumed that since I had colostrum, this meant I would be able to breastfeed exclusively. I wore nursing bras all throughout my pregnancy and registered for nursing pads on my baby registry. I didn’t have any intention on giving my baby formula, although I did receive a package of bottles at my shower, which I promptly stored deep in the closet, sure that they’d only be used occasionally by my husband or babysitters.
I planned for a natural birth at a birth center. My prenatal care was done with a practice of CPM (Certified Professional Midwives), who I loved, and felt well supported by. During my prenatal appointments we did discuss breastfeeding, and supplementation. But it wasn’t something I prepared for. I geared up for a fantastic natural birth by reading Gentle Birth Choices, Spiritual Midwifery, and The Birth Partner. I didn’t attend any breastfeeding classes, groups, or consult a lactation consultant during my pregnancy.
Elora’s birth was everything I’d hoped for. My labor started with my water breaking at 7:30pm on September 21st, and she was born at 11:59AM the following day, her due date! I offered her the breast within 5-10 minutes of giving birth, and with assistance from the midwife, she latched on to my left breast, but not my right one.
The following day my midwives came to my house for a follow-up. I believe it was that day that one of them commented on Elora’s somewhat short frenulum (the flap of skin under the tongue), but it was a comment made in passing, and there was no indication I should investigate this further. They helped with getting Elora latched on better, and suggested the football hold, but when they left I still didn’t feel comfortable or confident about nursing my new baby.
My milk came in on day 4, but my breasts only became hard on the outsides and the area leading under my arms. I nursed Elora “on demand” but was experiencing a lot of pain. My nipples became cracked and bleeding so that each nursing session would leave me in tears. My mom was there acting as a post partum doula, but she hadn’t nursed her babies in over 20 years. Her recollection of nursing was of experiencing let-down at any baby’s cry, including her own. I however, wasn’t experiencing any let-down sensation.
Then, on the morning of day 5 my midwives came to my house for a second follow-up. They weighed Elora and discovered she’d lost 10% of her birth weight. An acceptable overall weight loss is considered seven to eight percent. We were keeping track of her wet and soiled diapers, and the midwives were alarmed that she’d only had two wet diapers and one soiled diaper that day and was still passing meconium in her soiled diapers. “When the colostrum turns to milk, between the third day and the end of the first week, you should expect your baby to have six to eight cloth diapers or four to six disposable diapers, and have two to five bowel movements each day,” explains West. My midwives recommended that I begin using plastic nipple shields to help my breasts heal from the cracked nipples, rent a hospital grade breast-pump, and purchase an SNS (supplemental nursing system) and feed back to Elora everything that I pumped. (The nipple shields were a bad idea for BFAR (Breast Feeding After Reduction) mom, but I didn’t know that at the time.) They did try to listen for let-down gulps from the baby and there were few. Here ears never wiggled, from what I could tell.
That evening Elora’s cry was weak and I realized the midwives were right about her beginning to turn jaundice. I nursed her for an entire hour, deciding to pump first thing in the morning, as I was too worried and stressed to pump that night. I woke up with alarm around 4AM, realizing that she hadn’t woken to be fed for 5 hours!
The next morning I tried using the breast pump and was devastated to find that I’d only pumped 1oz out of both breasts combined! We began supplementing with formula right away. I did try using the SNS a few times, but it was awkward, so I quickly put it aside. I just longed for a “normal” breastfeeding relationship. I choose to follow the BFAR Golden Rule instead:
Offer the breast first, and then supplement away from the breast.
I continued to pump in between feedings for the first 2 or 3 weeks, but found that my little girl was fond of comfort nursing, and that suited me just fine. I’d rather be nursing her than pumping any day, considering the amount I was able to pump became less and less. I decided it I was fine being a human pacifier for a while.
I drank Mother’s Milk tea and took More Milk Plus, both glactagogues, 5 times a day for the first month, but it didn’t seem to increase my supply any. Elora gained weight at a rapid pace and was always off the growth charts after we began supplementing with formula. Our pediatrician was one of the few “breastfeeding friendly” doctors in the area. He was fully supportive of me continuing to nurse Elora. Although he gave some bad advice at times, such as you only need to nurse at the most for 15 minutes per session. Although, even at 3 months I was still experiencing a lot of pain with her latch. We went to breastfeeding support groups and I spoke to a lactation consultant. I was curious if she thought maybe the problem was that Elora was tongue-tied, just as the midwife hinted to in the beginning. She said it was possible. I went to Elora’s doctor for a referral to an ear, nose, and throat specialist and she had the painful procedure the same day. I would say the discomfort I experienced mostly disappeared after that, although, I wonder if part of it wasn’t related to the scar tissue on my breasts.
After the 3 month mark we continued to nurse without any problems. When she was 10 months old I found Milk Share, a yahoo group of mothers across the country who both donate and receive breastmilk informally. That’s where I found Elora’s 3rd “milk-godmother.” Here first two were my close friends who had babies around the same time as me. But for different reasons we only received donor milk a few times in the beginning. The third time was a wonderful doula who lived an hour away from my home who donated milk from her 2 month old. Even though Elora was already big into solids at the time, I will always be grateful to this mom (Hi Amy!) for the time she spent pumping milk to share with my daughter!
When she was 12 months old we stopped formula and continued to nurse until she was about 17 months old, a fact I am extremely proud of! I had planned on nursing until she turned 2, but it was then that I found out I was pregnant with our second baby (surprise!) and nursing became painful. I would say Elora and I are definitely a BFAR success story. I had a really encouraging friend who cheered me on during the rough beginning. She reminded me that I was persevering when many others would have quit. Another encouraging and comforting thought was that successful breastfeeding is not equivalent to exclusive breastfeeding. I’m also thankful to my husband for supporting me to breastfeed, even though he may not have understood its’ importance, both physiologically and emotionally.
So, now I am 7 months pregnant with baby number two, and feeling much more prepared than the first. I’m praying for full healing and recanalization of the breasts (yes, can you believe they actually do regrow and reconnect!?!). Yet, I’m also preparing myself for the possibility of supplementing. Should this be a necessity, I’ll know to watch for signs of dehydration including the number of wet and soiled diapers. I’ll be renting a baby scale to monitor baby’s weight daily. I am already connecting myself with La Leche League leaders in my area and still searching for a lactation consultant who has experience with BFAR women. I intend on using an at-the-breast supplementer for the first month to give my milk supply a fighting chance. I’ll be pumping and taking glactagogues again, too. I am working at finding a doctor who is willing to work closely to monitor our baby’s health. And I am praying for some new “milk-godmothers.” My hope is to find four or five moms with babies close to the same ages as ours will be, so that the milk is the appropriate maturity for our newborn, and within an hour driving distance from us. I know many mothers find milk donors around the country and the recipient pays for shipping costs, but this just isn’t a feasible choice for us, considering the frequent cost. So, if you are a mother in the Washington, DC metro area with a baby being born near the end of October (give or take a month or two), and you think you might like to donate milk to us I’d be so grateful!
Thanks for reading my story! Feel free to contact me with questions or comments by leaving a message on this post.
Emily L. Smith is married to her 10th grade sweetheart (we found each other again after 8 years), the mother to 22 month old Elora, and a new baby arriving near the end of October 2009. She is also a doula-in-training through DONA, a Birthmothers Ministry friend, and a part-time nanny to “baby Cody”, a 15 month old bundle of energy she has the pleasure of caring for.
Have you breastfed a baby after having a breast reduction? We’d love to hear your story – please leave a comment on this post to share your breastfeeding journey! Or contact us to have your story featured on our blog!
What a great story! Thank you for sharing it! It is frustrating that so many doctors do not give women all the information they need to know. My sister had a reduction and lift before she was married and I don’t remember any discussion about breastfeeding, but when her two sons were born, she was able to nurse them both completely and easily without any supplements. I suppose my sister was lucky in the surgeon she chose, but women should not have to be lucky to breastfeed their children.
Wow what a terrific story and an amazing mum
Hi Emily,
Such a wonderful and beautiful story from the beginning to the end! Thank you for sharing your story with those closest to you. I wish you the best of luck after this baby makes his or her arrival!!! I hope that you can have an easier time this next time with breastfeeding. :)I hope to be able to read ur next story.
Love ya!
Toni
You did great! It’s fun to hear the story from your perspective so many months later:)
Emily, thanks for sharing your story! I hope it helps a lot of other moms who are going through the same thing. Your experience is inspiring!
Stacey A-K
.-= Stacey´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net =-.
Dearest Em,
Having been through alot of this with you, witnessing and feeling your pains physically and emotionally, I want you to know how proud I am that you are a woman of such strength and conviction. I am ever grateful that you are my daughter and friend. Thank you for sharing your story with us, as we may learn from yours, Jack and Els’ experience.
Love, your Mom
What a wonderful story Emily. Thanks for sharing. I feel honored to have been a milk godmother to Elora even if it was only for a short time. I wish you much luck this time around.
Amy
I’m not a BFAR mom, but I have IGT (insufficient glandular tissue) and my story is very similar to yours. I am nursing ds2 now, who is 8 months, and although we don’t have a full supply, I’d definitely call it successful breastfeeding.
Thanks so much for sharing your story Gayle. How wonderful that you are able to breastfeed your baby despite difficulties. Kudos to you! — Judy
I’m due very soon. I don’t plan to pump but this time around but it’s usual for me to collect the let down from the unutilized side if I’m having engorgement issues. I’m in NoVa, so if things go well maybe I’ll be able to help a little later on.
.-= Susanna´s last blog ..My old skating dress =-.
Wow! What an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing! The one thing I found worked for me was taking galactagogues – they really helped with my low milk supply.
Hi!
I need some help.
I have been considering a reduction since I was 17. Now, I’m married and considering trying to have our first child sometime soon. My back pain is becoming more and more unbearable. I need some opinions and helpful information.
Should I get a reduction now, before I try to have kids and give myself some enjoyment of not having heavy breasts that don’t fit my figure, or should I wait until after I have my first and second child?
I have a consultation with a surgeon, it will be my second consultation with this particular surgeon. I just can’t make up my mind. It’s been a 6 year long thinking process.
Will my breasts get bigger if I have a reduction and then get pregnant??
Help me! -danielle
Hi Danielle,
Your question is really something that you should discuss with your surgeon. If you are in that much pain, then you might want to get it taken care of prior to having children. Make sure you tell your surgeon that you want to have to kids and that you are planning to breastfeed. If he isn’t receptive, get a 2nd opinion. I know it can be done – but your surgeon needs to be careful to not remove your milk ducts and not take away too much of the breast tissue. Chances are when you get pregnant your breasts are going to get larger (with or without the reduction) – so you should discuss all of the options with your surgeon and see what he/she recommends. And get a 2nd opinion from another surgeon, to be sure they are consistent in their recommendations. I have asked the author of this post, Emily Smith, to stop by and answer your question as well, so please check back soon. — Judy
Hi Danielle,
My answer is to wait. Here are the pro’s and con’s as I see them.
Pro’s to having surgery now:
Relief from pain after the 1-3 months of healing from the major surgery, barring any complications.
Breasts that suit your body now, rather than in a few years.
Con’s to having the surgery now:
To get the size you desire a significant amount of tissue may be taken, thereby imparing your ability to exclusively breastfeed.
Formula is expensive and not as healthy for your child as breastmilk.
As Judy said, your breasts WILL grow again during pregnancy, taking you away from ideal size. I was a C cup after my reduction and up to a DD after two kids. Why feel like you need a second reduction after you have kids?
Since you are so close to having children, I would really suggest waiting. In the meantime, look into massage and chiropractic to deal with the back and shoulder pain. It’s a temporairy fix, but you made it this far in life with it. By waiting you’ll be giving yourself and your babies the best start in mothering and in life.
Good luck in making this difficult and important decision!
Emily Smith
In my work as a breastfeeding counselor in the hospital, I never did find anyone who had a reduction who successfully breastfed. I’m aware it has been done, but if breastfeeding is important to you, I would at least consider postponing the surgery. Depending upon how extensive the reduction needs to be, it may seriously impact your ability to breastfeed. I’ve even seen cases where the entire nipple has been detached and reattached to make it “look right”…. which then leads to a complete severing of the nerve endings that are responsible for conveying information to the brain to signal milk production. (And I’m not entirely sure how it would affect link up to the actual ducts, but it would have to have some negative impact on that as well.)
Good luck with a difficult decision. I think my biggest concern would be finding a surgeon who was truly of the same mind as you in terms of ensuring future breastfeeding success and wasn’t just paying lip service. Sorry, as an RN I’ve worked with way too many surgeons… there are great ones, but there are too many who think they know better than the patient.
.-= Elisabeth Halligan´s last blog ..Breast Feeding Etiquette : Understand What Bras to Wear While Breast Feeding =-.
Hi Danielle,
I feel like I could’ve written exactly your post just a few months ago. I was a 32I (I as in ice cream) and couldn’t go through a day without thinking about my breasts… they affected everything I did, my comfort in every position, the clothes I was able to wear, etc. I had already been through physical therapy which helped my posture a little but not much with the upper back/shoulder/neck pain and tension.
I had my surgery in June, and told my surgeon that I intended to breastfeed. She told me “the usual” 50/50 stat but told me that 25% of women can’t breastfeed anyway. I wish I had been better educated before getting the surgery. Surgeons, even if they work on breasts, aren’t necessarily that schooled in the issue of breastfeeding… and the fact is that they can’t actually tell what is breast tissue and what are mammary glands while they’re “in there” (this is in the BFAR book – it all looks exactly the same, unless you are lactating when they obviously wouldn’t be doing surgery on you). So it’s not “the surgeon’s fault” necessarily if you can’t BF after reduction.
And that 25% of women who “can’t breastfeed anyway”? Not true… most women, with the proper support, CAN breastfeed. Way more than 75%.
Anyway, I became pregnant in October, just a few months post-op. I’m very excited but also really nervous. My surgeon had been able to take me down to a D cup and now I’m at a DD… hoping that means that something is “going right” in there. But I will only be 13-months post-op at the time of my baby’s birth, which is hardly any time for healing and recanalization. Most sources say that if you wait 5 years after surgery you’ll have decent chances.
I have been preparing myself by reading Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery – which I urge you to read BEFORE you make the decision about your surgery. I wish I had.
I’ve also purchased a hospital-grade breastpump (Medela Symphony) and have looked up “formula” recipes (Nourishing Traditions / Weston A Price has good ones that are much better than commercial formula, much closer to breastmilk) and will be buying a SNS in case I need to supplement. My plan is TO breastfeed. Even if I’m not making much … or even at first, any.
And I take comfort in knowing that even if it “doesn’t work” this time, women who breastfeed after reduction surgeries have much higher success rates with breastfeeding their second (and subsequent) post-op baby.
All of that said, I’m not sure if I would’ve changed my mind about having the surgery in June if I had known I would become pregnant so quickly… it’s so much more comfortable day-to-day to have D or even DD breasts than to have I breasts. My headaches stopped immediately, and even other people could tell just by looking at me that the tension I had always held in my neck and shoulders was instantly gone. And I’d much rather be a DD at this point than a J (one cup size up from I)…
I did what I needed to do for myself, and now I will do everything I can for my baby.
I hope that helps. Please feel free to hop over to my site and send me an email if you need any other support.
.-= Joyful Abode´s last blog ..Living Room – Sneak Peek and Thoughts =-.
Danielle;
I am a BFAR mother breastfeeding exclusively. I do not regret my decision to have reduction surgery prior to having children. HOWEVER, I believe that my success has a lot to do with the large amount of time that passed between surgery and my first child (nearly 8 yrs). Depending how much tissue they remove there can be significant damage to the ducts and glands needed for lactation. Over time some of this damage can be reversed by your body through a process called “recanalizing”.
It is also important to keep in mind that there are other factors aside from ability to produce milk that effect your breastfeeding success. Many doctors and OBGYNs receive little to no lactation training, and have even less experience and knowledge of BFAR (with some exceptions of coarse). It is incredibly important for you to learn as much as you can, and to find a lactation consultant who has BFAR experience. In my case, because I was attempting to breastfeed after reduction surgery the doctors at the hospital insisted on supplementing my son with formula without giving my milk the chance to come in, they simply did not believe that I could breastfeed. . . if I did not have the help of a qualified lactation consultant who showed me how to supplement my baby without causing nipple confusion or effecting my milk supply I doubt that I would have been so successful.
To answer your question about if you will grow again during pregnancy and breastfeeding the answer is yes. Everyone is different of coarse so the amount of change will vary from person to person, but I am currently only 2 cup sizes away from my pre-surgery size. (I take comfort in the fact that without the surgery I would have grown EVEN BIGGER than my original size)
There are so many different factors that effect the decision to undergo breast reduction surgery, it is a matter of researching extensively and making your own list of pros and cons.
a GREAT resource is the LLL book “defining your own success” it has lots of information about the different types and styles of breast surgery, and what it means for your breastfeeding options.
If you would like still more info and advice from other BFAR mothers there is also a message board at http://www.bfar.org/index.shtml
Best of luck;
Pocketbuddha
Wow
I never expected to have so much help! Thanks you guys!
Here’s my situation in more defined terms:
When I was 14, I was “DD”. I’m an “I-cup” now at 22 years old. I’m married just bought my first house and have created a baby room. My husband is 26 and we both really want to try to have our first child soon.
We were planning to “try” to conceive at the end of this summer. If that pregnancy is successful and we have a child, we would like to wait about 4 more years to have a second child and be done. So the goal is or was to have 2 children in the next 6 or 7 years.
Since I was 14, I’ve been in physical therapy. My PT says I need an MRI done on my back just to see what kind of damage has already done to make sure I won’t need back surgery. I’m on prescription pain killers as needed.
On May 3rd, I have a consultation with Dr. Stacy Peterson (plastic surgeon). This will be my second consult with him. I had another consultation with someone else who I just didn’t like.
Obviously, if I choose to have this breast reduction surgery this summer, I will postpone having my first child for a year or so. . I don’t think I could wait 5 years to have my first baby.
I’m willing to put off having a baby for a year, maybe two, if it means I’m not in pain anymore. I’m SOOOOO SCARED that I won’t be able to handle the pain of extra weight from pregnancy.
I just had a miscarriage. Now, I only made it to 6 weeks pregnant, but my bust grew more just in that short time span.
OPTION 1:
I get the reduction this summer, work out like crazy until I lose even more weight so that what is gained during pregnancy isn’t terribly bad, and then have my first baby?
OPTION 2:
get pregnant with my first child this summer/year, deal with the extra weight, continue physical therapy, and then get the reduction before I have a 2nd child?
OPTION 3:
wait until after I have my desired 2 children, have the reduction, and THEN spend the rest of my life in comfort.
Hi Danielle, Like I said previously, I really think that this is something that you and a good surgeon should decide, but based on the feedback from everyone who chimed in with breast reductions, it sounds like only waiting a year post surgery won’t be enough time – so you may want to post-pone the surgery until at least after baby #1. Good luck with your decision. I have GREAT nursing bras for I, J and K cups – so if you do decide to wait, I can help you out there. — Judy
Danielle;
I remember feeling so desperate to just get in there and get the surgery done ASAP because I was in so much pain! I definitely know how you feel!
In some ways anyways, when I had my surgery I was 16 and having children was a long way off in my future.
Remembering how badly I wanted and NEEDED that surgery for so many reasons, I don’t know how I would weigh that against the incredibly powerful experience of breastfeeding. I cannot imagine making such an impossible decision. Whichever you choose, you are an incredibly strong woman for it!
There is also the fact that while having the surgery may effect your ability to breastfeed, not having the surgery may effect your comfort and health during pregnancy. Before I got pregnant with my son it had never occurred to me how physically taxing carrying a baby would be. So that is another point to consider I suppose.
I will say that option 2, getting the reduction between the two children, may be the hardest of them all for one reason. I think that if you were to successfully exclusively breastfeed your first, accepting a different kind of breastfeeding success for your second child may be a lot tougher for you. Or at least, I know it would be for me!
There are so many different sides to this! Can I suggest writing down all of your concerns about breastfeeding and pregnancy and bringing it up with your surgeon? If s/he tries to brush it off, or give you the 50/50 chance answer push a little harder and make sure s/he carefully and fully addresses your concerns. If your surgeon knows how important it all is for you, there may be options or suggestions s/he can give you.
-pocketbuddha
.-= pocketbuddha´s last blog ..Coffee Can Garden =-.
Thank you for sharing your study. I am writing a paper for my lactation consultant program and I needed to interview a mom who has had breast reduction surgery. Could I contact you to get some more information?
Jackie
Hi Jackie, thanks for visiting my blog. I sent your comment to the author of this article, Emily Smith to see if she wanted to be interviewed for your article. She has your contact information. Thanks again — Judy
I had a breast reduction when I was 21 and my daughter was born when I was 33, so 12 years later.
I saw a lactation consultant before birth when I had colostrum and she recommended that I rent a hospital grade pump for the first couple weeks, which I didn’t do because of the expense and because I was confident everything would just work out (man, do I regret that!).
My daughter was exclusively breastfed until 5 wks of age by which time she had NOT regained her birthweight. She was so skinny and not thriving, I had no choice but to give her formula. This was after taking herbs and domperidone (given here in Canada to stimulate milk production) and pumping since week 2, when we found she had lost 10% of her birthweight, which she didn’t regain for almost a month.
I tried absolutely everything to avoid supplementing, but in the end it was a question of life or death for her, really. I didn’t see it at the time, I was so focused on breastfeeding, but my husband was so worried, the nurses were so worried and when I see the pictures of her now, I am shocked by how skinny and listless she was.
She perked right up within a week of getting formula and has been off all the growth charts in terms of weight and length ever since.
The thing is, I did keep breastfeeding. I did it by always offering the breast first, and having her feed off both sides, twice, before offering her the bottle, maximum of 2 ounces at a time of formula. This is how I kept her drinking often, as a breast fed baby does. I did it by pumping 4-6 times a day, often not getting more than an ounce at a time, and never more than 3 ounces from both breast combined. It was hellish torture and I wouldn’t do it again. I finally gave up the pumping at 6 months and that made life a little easier.
Now my daughter is 14 months and LOVES her breast milk, which she gets twice a day. I will continue to breastfeed her as long as she wants. When she feeds now, I hear continuous gulping, which I never heard in the beginning, so I do believe that my milk ducts have grown back somewhat. Also, one breast I feel everything and this breast produces a lot more milk. The other nipple is somewhat numb and even if it produces milk, I have a harder time “letting down” on that side as the nipple has less feeling of her sucking.
Anyway, this is my success story, as I am very proud to be still breastfeeding my baby. It was so hard and so worth it. With my second child, I will try to exclusively breastfeed but I will weight him/her every day to monitor how much milk he/she is getting. I also won’t do the crazy pumping and will be much more relaxed about giving formula. My baby has had about 50-50 breast milk and formula from week 5 and she is very healthy! So all you moms out there terrified as I was about giving formula, remember babies are resilient and my cousins were both raised on straight cow’s milk from the carton. So do the best you can, don’t kill yourself, but don’t give up either! You might find a happy medium as I did.
One thing I found difficult was the lack of information on mixed feeding and all the NEGATIVE comments out there about the evils of formula. Like we don’t feel bad enough already!
Thank you so much for sharing your story Sarah! What a fantastic success story! I am so happy that you kept breastfeeding even though you had to supplement – that is wonderful! So many moms think that it has to be all or none – and as you have shown – it doesn’t!! Congrats on your wonderful breastfeeding journey!! — Judy
I’m a BFAR success story, too. This is the first time I’ve heard of recanalizing but it makes sense because I was far more successful for my second child (four years post-surgery).
I’ve written a blog of my breastfeeding story because I’ve been asked by so many people how I’ve kept the supply up. If anyone’s interested, the link is in this post.
A message for those who advise against a reduction before having children, it’s easy to say that if you don’t suffer with oversized breasts. For most of us, it’s a matter of mental and physical health to have them reduced and you get them done when you can afford the time and money to do so, and not when (potential) breastfeeding decrees. I don’t regret getting it done, even if it’s meant I’ve had to comp-feed. The life I have now is worth it.
Thanks for shared your story, I had a breast reduction when I was 14, and now I’m 30 and I’m pregnant with my second baby, I wish I could breast feed my baby this time , I know it’s going to be a good experience ! Wish me look;-)
I had a breast reduction at 25 and my baby at 35. My breasts are terribly scarred from the surgery but I was determined to breast feed my little one. I studied all the material I could find while pregnant, saw a lactation consultant prior to birth, who also mentored me after birth, rented a scale and professional grade pump and was a breast feeding nazi from the moment I saw my angel. We nursed as soon as I wrangled him from the nurses. His latch was ok but not perfect. I insisted on pumping in the recovery room and was able to pump colostrum which a kind nurse worked very hard to give him in a syringe. The lactation specialists at the hospital helped with latching but didn’t have much advice for BFAR so I was happy to have chosen my own lactation nurse prior. We left the hospital Only 36 hours after birth and I had no idea what was coming next. We arrived home at 11:00 pm and my son power nursed that entire night. I have no words to really describe this other than He acted like my nipple was a drug he had to have more of. If I pulled him off the breast he screamed bloody murder and when he was on he did not stop sucking madly. I was afraid something’s was wrong. He didn’t even slow down to sleep. I held him at the breast all nightt that night, alternating sides and keeping his latch proper by correcting his jaw repeatedly. . I know now that this is probably the reason my milk came in and supply was as good as it was. He continued this behavior for the next two days. When the hospital home health nurse came to visit she showed me how to use the SNS just in case and a weight check plus talk with my own lactation consultant arrived in a decision to supplement a day later. After he received just a tiny but of formula in a syringe my baby calmed into this sweet docile creature so unlike the fussy nipple fiend I had been experiencing. So I began to supplement small amounts at the breast. He still nursed well and comfort nursed a lot but I could tell he was happier. And when my milk finally came in the next day, we settled into nursing quite well. I pumped between feeding and gave him that in the SNS. My whole day and night was about breast feeding him. I continued to supplement with formula sometimes but there was a period of about 2 months, maybe from 2-4 months old when I was providing 100% of his nutrition and that was very satisfying as well as much easier on mommy! It was much more difficult after going back to work and pumping but we still nursed until age 13 months. My office has a very nice lactation room with individual locked stalls and nice chairs with a full refrigerator and sink, so that helped. At 12 months we cut back to only nights and mornings and I stopped pumping at work. Now I wish I had continued because no pumping and just those two nursings weren’t enough to keep my supply and he lost interest after about a month. Ther are times now that he’s two that I wish I could just nurse him to calm him when he’s upset. If I have another baby, which isn’t likely, I would try to avoid supplementing and nurse as king as possible. It was the most work and reward I’ve ever experienced.
Your story is incredible. It is encouraging for girls and new moms. I exclusively breastfed my 2 sons for first 6 months. Its the best thing a mom can do for her new born’s life long health.