Methods to Breastfeed After a Reduction Surgery
Devices and Supplements to Help Succeed at Nursing After Surgery
Aug 20, 2009
Breastfeeding after having breast reduction surgery can be hard. There are devices to help succeed, and there are herbs and drugs to take to help increase supply. Even if a mother can't produce all the breastmilk her baby needs, it is still possible to supplement with donated milk or infant formula.
Breast Pumps and Supplemental Nursing Systems
A breast pump can be a nursing mother's best friend. Working mothers can use them to pump and store milk to feed their baby while they are at work. They can also pump while at work to keep up supply. But a woman who has had breast surgery can use the pump to help build up their supply in between feedings. Making sure to both nurse the baby and pump as soon as possible after baby is born is key to being able to produce as much milk as possible.
A supplemental nursing system, or SNS, is a device that allows a mother to feed a baby at her breast. A bag is attached to a long tube and placed near the mother's neck. The tube runs down her chest and is taped by the nipple. Either pumped breastmilk or formula is placed in the bag. When the baby sucks at the nipple, it gets both milk directly from the mother and also from the bag. This allows a mother to nurse her baby even when it needs extra food than what she's producing.
Galactagogues: Lactation Enhancers
A galactagogue is something that helps to maximize a woman's milk supply. There are herbs, teas, drugs, and other methods to help stimulate milk production. These should only be taken after research, or under the care of a health professional. They can be useful for a BFAR mother who is making some milk, but not enough to completely feed a baby without supplementation.
Donated Breastmilk and Formula Supplementation
A milk bank is a place where woman who make excess milk can donate it, where it is frozen and stored until someone needs it. The women must pass a health screening to make sure their milk is acceptable. It is often used for premature babies, or babies with health conditions, where the mother doesn't make enough breast milk. Sometimes covered by health insurance, a doctor will often write a prescription so that the bank will dispense the milk to the mother who needs it for her baby.
If a BFAR mother can't produce enough milk and doesn't have access to any donated milk, she can supplement with formula. Ideally she will still nurse or pump so the baby gets as much breastmilk as possible, with formula fulfilling the rest of the baby's dietary needs.
With support and knowledge, a BFAR mother can successfully breastfeed. She may need to supplement with donated milk or formula, or she might need to take galactagogues. She might also need to use a breast pump or SNS. These methods can help ensure a happy and fulfilling breastfeeding relationship.
For more information about where to find BFAR support, please read Support for Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction.
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