If you’re among the over 300,000 American women who underwent breast augmentation surgery each year, you might be thinking if you will be able or can still breastfeed. While some study has discovered that women with breast augmentation surgery are possible to have complications breastfeeding than those women who are natural, the chances are in your end, though you might encounter some challenges in the future.
Can I still breastfeed with implants?
The most crucial aspect in deciding nursing success is how and why breast augmentation surgery was performed. Here are the things to consider in breastfeeding with implants after breast augmentation:
- Where were the cuts done? If the wound goes over your nipples or areola, then possibly that your breast milk nerves and ducts were cut as well. So, it might be impossible to breastfeed your baby. But if your slits are under your breast or near your underarm. Probably, your surgeon chose to save your main nerves so you can still make milk and breastfeed.
- Are you still feeling something in your nipples? If so, then your nerves are in good condition and it’s a great sign, even if your breast augmentation surgery is new (like just last year), full nipple feeling may not return yet (but you still can perform breastfeed).
- Can you locate your augmentation? If they are below your chest muscle, then it’s good for lactating. Augmentation below the glandular tissue of your breasts can sometimes affect breast milk production.
- Why you need surgery? If you had a small breast and chose implants for cosmetic purposes, then you can still breastfeed. But for those who underwent breast augmentation surgery due to their breast tissue were never formed or their breasts are far from each other, are asymmetrical or tubular. If you have one of those mentioned factors, you probably don’t have good glandular tissue you need to produce milk. But, don’t lose hope yet.
But if you don’t have any idea about the questions, it’s recommended you contact your breast augmentation surgery doctor for details.
If your breast augmentation surgery has silicone, there are known the problem to your child if you are breastfeeding. Surprisingly, more silicon elements can be found in cow’s milk and formula than in breast milk with implantations.
Will Breastfeeding Ruin My Implants?
If you have better knowledge, then your next step is to set an appointment with International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, as they’re an authorized department who helps women prepare to successfully nurse once you give birth. They may recommend ways and give tips to support and boost your milk from the start and cope with any pain and discomfort you might feel (while it’s okay to have scar tissue in your breasts from your breast augmentation surgery that occasionally makes you nursing more awkward).
It’s best to breastfeed your child in the first few weeks so that your body will get used to the “milk production process.” To improve the production of your breast milk, your consultant must suggest you utilize a breast pump device (especially the electric one) as well as to nursing your baby from your breast. It’s possible to effectively breastfeed even if you cannot give a full milk source by improving practices that help lactate, including utilizing at-breast augmenting bottles or devices.
If you end up using a formula for all your milk supply or maybe some of your baby foods, always keep in mind that she will get all the nourishment from that and with several smart actions you can still experience all the cuddle time you and your baby need as well.
Read also:
- The Effects of Lean Protein for Moms
- C-Section Recovery: When to Exercise After C Section?
- 20 Habits of a Patient Mom: Actionable Tips for Moms Who Lose it
