Will breastfeeding be affected after breast surgery?

Many people think that a woman's ability to breastfeed can be completely lost after breast surgery. However, depending on the case, this ability of a woman may or may not be affected.

In this article, invite you to join aFamilyToday Health to learn about the effects of breast surgeries on women's ability to breastfeed in the future!

Will a woman's ability to breastfeed be affected after breast surgery?

Not all breast surgeries affect a woman's ability to breastfeed later. You can still breastfeed even if you have had breast surgery, but it will depend a lot on the type of surgery you have.

To be able to breastfeed, many parts of the mother such as the milk production system, milk glands, areola and nipples must work in unison. Therefore, to be safely able to breastfeed after breast surgery, all of these parts of the mother must be functioning properly.

The effects of different types of breast surgery on breastfeeding

Breastfeeding after mastectomy or any other surgery involves this part can also be challenging for first-time mothers. However, not all breast surgeries affect a woman's ability to breastfeed later. If the surgery doesn't interfere with the nipples , areola or the ducts, breastfeeding won't have much trouble.

In most cases, a woman's ability to breastfeed is not significantly affected. In rare cases, however, you may be required to use medications or substances that may affect the quality of the breast milk as well as the quantity of breast milk. Therefore, you will need to give your baby more formula to ensure full nutrition for your baby .

1. Breastfeeding after breast augmentation surgery

Whatever the purpose of breast augmentation , improvement of breast size, or returning to an inherent shape, all types of breast augmentation surgery use implants for different positions. in the breasts.

Breast implants have no effect on lactation or lactation if these types of surgeries do not affect breast tissue or areola. However, the amount of milk produced is usually less if you have breast augmentation surgery to improve severely underdeveloped breasts or to restore shape after mastectomy.

2. Breastfeeding after partial mastectomy

Like breast augmentation surgery, some women are forced to undergo partial mastectomy because they are too large, causing them pain and physical discomfort. Surgery involves removing excess breast tissue and repositioning the nipple with isola correction surgery. This can affect the milk ducts, thereby hindering milk production or milk delivery because the nerves cannot transmit the signals needed as required.

3. Breastfeeding after complete mastectomy

Lots of people wonder if they can breastfeed their baby after a complete mastectomy. Usually, complete mastectomy is done to remove the cancer cells or stop their growth and metastasis.

The main factor affecting the ability to breastfeed in this situation is the amount of breast removal. The removal of a large number of cells with the use of radiation to kill cancer cells may further affect milk production. If you have to amputate both breasts, you have no choice but to bottle feed with formula. However, if only one side is removed, you can still breastfeed on the other side.

4. Breast-feeding after breast tumor removal surgery

Some women may have lumps in the breast that need to be removed with surgery. These lumps may or may not be cancerous, but if they appear near the nipple, they can affect milk production. In addition, if the cancer is cancerous, doctors will often apply radiotherapy to remove them, which has a huge impact on your later breast-feeding. If these are not the case, surgical removal of the breast lump usually does not affect your ability to breastfeed much.

5. Breastfeed after breast biopsy

In most cases, breastfeeding after a breast biopsy is not significantly affected. A biopsy is a medical technique that helps a doctor remove a portion of tissue for intensive examination.

Breast biopsy usually does not affect breastfeeding, as long as they do not invade the areola and nipple areas. In current medicine, a surgical biopsy has been replaced by a needle biopsy, which is a relatively less invasive, less painful, and less impactful method on other parts of the breast. has little effect on the breast-feeding process.

6. Breastfeeding after nipple enema surgery

A nipple depression is a condition in which the nipple does not extend out as usual, but goes back into the breast. In mild cases, the condition is usually harmless and the nipple can return to its normal position when stimulated. In other cases, however, an indentation requires the patient to perform surgery to return the nipple to its correct position.

Usually, to pull the nipple out, doctors often have to cut through the ducts, so a woman's ability to breastfeed will also be seriously affected. In some cases, doctors may choose another method of exposing the nipples, such as stretching the skin around them. This does not have much effect on the ducts, so it may not affect your ability to breastfeed.

7. Breastfeeding after breast piercing

Many women choose to wear breast piercings as jewelry. The nipple is often pierced and in this case it does not affect the ability to breastfeed because it does not affect the breast tissue or areola. However, doctors recommend pregnant women should remove the advice from the breast when pregnant, preferably before the second trimester of pregnancy.

In addition, when breastfeeding, you absolutely should not wear breast tips because they can cause the baby to choke while suckling. You should remove the breast tips before breastfeeding to give the area time to heal and ensure they do not become infected while nursing.

How to increase breast milk output after breast surgery?

The fact that the complete mastectomy procedure can still carry many hidden risks affects the health or ability of a woman to breastfeed. In a few complete mastectomy surgeries and in most other types of breast surgeries there are still effective ways to get plenty of breast milk :

Before thinking of ways to increase breastmilk, if you can afford it, you should continue to breastfeed even if you have a little milk. Breastfeeding not only reduces your baby's hunger but also provides your baby with antibodies and other essential elements, which play an important role in strengthening your baby's immune system .

There is a way to help mothers  increase the secretion of milk from nature  like using herbs. However, before using any herb, you should consult with your doctor about the risks and side effects these herbs may cause.

If you have a blockage , you can think about using additional formula to feed your baby. However, if you still want to breastfeed, you can breastfeed from someone else.

Milk production can be accelerated when your body sees a high demand for milk from your baby. Therefore, if you breastfeed regularly, combined with using a milking machine can help stimulate your body to produce more milk.

Invite you to refer to the article: How  to combine breastfeeding with formula?

Advice for mothers when having breast surgery

Breastfeeding after any type of breast surgery feels different. Some of the tips below can help make you feel better, as well as ensure that your baby stays healthy and safe.

Whether you're breastfeeding or adding formula, you should focus on your baby's health and behavior. If your baby's digestive system and urine output are stable, you don't need to worry too much.

After the baby is born, almost all doctors advise mothers to breastfeed as soon as possible. Let your baby start to breastfeed early, create conditions for the baby to get used to the breast and the mother gets used to the feeling of breastfeeding. In addition, you should also get used to the breast pump gradually.

Tell your doctor or nurse about any breast surgeries you have had. This will help them keep track of your situation so that they can be monitored and backed up against possible situations. You also need to keep your doctor up to date on a regular basis even after you are discharged from hospital.

Obstetricians can give you some good advice to help you continue breastfeeding even after breast surgery. Before having surgery, you should talk to your doctor to get details about the surgery and its effects on your ability to breastfeed later.

Nipple surgery can interfere with breastfeeding because they damage the ducts, disrupting the entire milk production process. However, in most other types of breast surgeries, your ability to breastfeed is usually not significantly affected. Knowing the effects of breast surgery in advance can help prevent and find different directions in surgery and breastfeeding.