Let's Breastfeed

Breast surgery!

I have not found a lot of practical advice on this subject, but have met many moms who have had some form of surgery in the past.

If you are trying to breastfeed your baby but are concerned that he or she is not gaining weight well, filling nappies frequently and seems to cry a lot during the day, you may be suffering the untold effects of breast surgery.

Surgeons will do their best to preserve the integrity of the breast tissue, especially the milk ducts which carry the milk down toward the nipple. However, these are easily severed and when this happens, even though you are producing milk and your breasts are full, there is no way for the milk to exit the breast.

Breast surgery does not mean that you have no chance of breastfeeding, but I would urge you to be aware that your baby may be struggling to transfer and access milk.

Due to the nature of breastfeeding – you will only know whether you have a problem once your baby arrives and your milk comes in. Many of my clients have breastfed well and not needed any formula top ups.

Some clients have needed to do a 50/50 split and others have used a nursing supplementor which delivers formula into baby’s mouth whilst breastfeeding to maintain the closeness a breastfeeding dyad enjoy!

I always encourage clients to keep an eye on the output – as what goes in must come out right. If there is not a lot of output in the form of wet and dirty nappies, there can’t be much going in.

Get somebody to come in and assess a feed and give you practical strategies to implement.

I wish you every success.

Geraldine

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