Is breastfeeding after a breast reduction surgery possible?My breasts had been a troubled subject for some time, in many ways I’m sure others will relate but equally a bit of backstory is required and may give anyone else the reassurance I have to offer. I never thought that breastfeeding after a breast reduction would be a possibility. Long-legged in my running shorts, my completely undeveloped body, complete with ‘boyish’ (as I was repeatedly informed) haircut, I envied the more developed girls of high school. They got the attention. They could wear the fashion (although I realize now how in the late 90s/00s fashion was a rather questionable term- the two strand gelled fringe…need I say more?!) and there I was in my baggy sports gear and braces. But as karma or some dramatic hocus pocus would have it, the year I turned 15, I went from cotton crop top wearing flatness to bolder holding underwired DD cups. My hair grew, my clothing marginally feminized, and some male heads occasionally turned. Add on another 6 months and I was an FF cup, my weight generally hadn’t altered and I was still trying …(underneath the 2 sports bras I relied upon) to run and compete in athletics competitions. My school leavers book was a consensus of ‘good luck Flipping Fantastic’, and ‘see you soon FF’. It had already gone too far. My breasts were already larger than my mums by several cup sizes and my grandmothers both had petite frames and chests to match. I’m eating healthily (for a teenager) and exercising daily, why was my body growing in this way. READ MORE: WILL BREASTFEEDING GET ANY EASIER? RELATED: BREASTFEEDING, PARENTING AND THE RELATIONSHIP IT BRINGS When I started university, I had long hair, below my shoulders, a lovely boyfriend and accepted a crevice of a cleavage was part of the daily package to consider and learn to dress. I had to embrace it because it would take a tent to conceal the now GG cups. Running was getting harder. I heard every pun along the lines of ‘you must get two black eyes running with those’, such original comedy from EVERYONE. This led to increasing difficulty from a psychological point of view. Running was my sanctuary outside of the house but now having a guaranteed round of toots if traffic lights gave opportunity, I had to force myself to put my trainers on. I wore sunglasses in hope of projecting ignorance to this crude attention. Amongst the vans and work vehicles, I had fire engines and even ambulances honk horns and shout out pretty awful things. Ironically I’m now married to a firefighter! These were grown men gawping at my ‘bouncing norks’ (yup that’s one word I heard frequently) even adding in hand gestures whilst their partners sat oblivious next to them. RELATED: DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE BEFORE GIVING BIRTH READ MORE: HOW I GOT RID OF MASTITIS Rounds of photos and surgeon’s artwork put into place the new boobs coming my way. I had a complete freak out in the lead up to this operation, breaking up with my boyfriend, leaving university and transferring to one closer to home and generally feeling panicked. I was told the operation would mean I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed after a breast reduction, but having children wasn’t even on my newly single radar. The op itself was apparently harder than planned because my running and persistent exercise had caused my breasts to be very fibrous and more like a water balloon rather than a chunk of fat to cut away. Reconstruction was required and then an attempt to get the other breast to look as symmetrical as possible. READ MORE: INFANT TUMMY TROUBLES; REFLUX AND GAS RELATED: VEGAN FOODS TO BOOST YOUR MILK SUPPLY Acupuncture (woven through the scar lines), reiki, massage and so many lotions were used to break down the scar lines and promote healing. This went on for years. And reactivity settled to what I can only hope are normal levels. I got pregnant and due to the severing and snipping involved with my op, I had been told breastfeeding wouldn’t be an option. Too many ducts and glands had to be removed and the nipple too damaged to connect any remains ducts to the areola. The internal scarring was expected to also cause issues. But when in the early stages of labor I felt irrationally compelled to make breastfeeding after my breast reduction an option, a wonderful lactation consultant visited me and taught me there and then, whilst bounding on the birthing ball, how to hand express. There it was, the golden yellow liquid. This meant breastfeeding after a breast reduction was possible. Though my lactation consultant advised, the next few weeks would require some persistence to build supply from the few glands I had left to get them to cater for my baby. Fast forward 4 years and those glands have worked throughout, tandem feeding 4-year-old and stepping up a notch when my twins arrived last year prematurely. It took a few weeks but with frequent feeding & expressing we got there.
My surgeon was amazing, better than he even realized! I’m healthier now and able to exercise, so although they’ve been bashed and bruised, mocked and teased, these beauties are continuing to exceed expectations. Love your mind & body. It’s capable of more than we are sometimes led to believe. Do you have a story you want to share? Let us know in the comments below! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Lilli Docherty, is a mum to x4 under 4 years old, self-employed with her own craft business and raising her family vegan. Lilli writes about daily life and the challenges she faces throughout her pregnancies, breastfeeding and vegan lifestyle, with an honest and fun reflection of her journey. You can find her on Facebook
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April 2019
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