Breast surgery
Women who have had breast implants or surgery to remove cysts or benign (non-cancerous) lumps usually are able to breast-feed.
Women who have had surgery to make their breasts smaller (breast reduction) may have trouble breast-feeding if the milk ducts were cut or removed during surgery. These women may wish to consult their surgeon to determine whether this is a problem. They also are encouraged to see a lactation consultant before delivery, who will then know to monitor the mother and baby closely.
A woman who has had surgery to treat breast cancer and who is planning to become pregnant and breast-feed should discuss possible problems with her cancer specialist (oncologist). Depending on the type of cancer and the kind of treatment she had, she may still be able to breast-feed.
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: June 28, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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