Breastfeeding And Breast Implants

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What are breast implants?

• Breast implants are small bags filled with saline (salt) water or silicone gel used to make your breasts look larger and fuller. An implant is also called a "breast prosthesis" and is put inside one or both breasts using surgery. They are placed behind your breast tissue and push it forward to help improve the shape of your breast. The surgery done to place the implants is called breast augmentation. Some women have this done to restore the appearance of their breasts after injury or mastectomy (surgical removal of all or part of breast). Some have this surgery to improve their appearance and self-confidence. Some women have this surgery because their breasts never fully developed.
  
  
• After having this surgery, some women will want to have babies. You may also feel the same, and be thinking about breastfeeding your baby after giving birth. Talk to your caregiver about effects breast implants may have on breastfeeding.

How do breasts make milk?

• Your breasts change during pregnancy to prepare for making milk. Your breasts contain milk glands and milk ducts that increase in number, causing your breasts to get larger. Milk is made in small sacs called milk glands or mammary glands. The milk glands are arranged side by side in small grape-like clusters. The milk gland clusters connect to milk ducts, which are pathways for milk to travel through before reaching your nipples. These small ducts join other ducts and form bigger ducts as they get closer to the nipple. Breast milk flows from the ducts into the sinus (collection area) behind the nipple. It then comes out through 15 to 20 small openings on your nipples.
  
  
• During the later part of your pregnancy, your breasts start to make and store colostrum. Colostrum (KO-lah-strum) is a substance made by the breasts before they start making milk. It is a yellow, creamy fluid that contains protein, vitamins and minerals, and sugar. Your baby will receive colostrum during breastfeeding before your breasts start making milk. Your breasts start making milk 2 to 4 days after your baby's birth. Colostrum may continue to be in your milk for up to two weeks after your baby is born. The milk glands will make milk continuously while you are breastfeeding. The amount of milk made depends on how much milk is removed from the breast, such as during feeding or pumping.

Can surgery for breast implants cause problems for breastfeeding?

• Nerves, milk ducts, and milk glands can be damaged during implant surgery. Injured nerves can decrease the feeling in your nipple area, which may reduce your let-down response. Damaged milk ducts can decrease or stop the flow of breast milk. Damaged milk glands may decrease the amount of milk made by your breast. If you had bleeding after your surgery, you may have gotten breast tissue damage or a hematoma. A hematoma is a building up of blood in an area in your breast. This can lead to the area getting badly scarred if it is not treated. If you had a breast infection after your surgery, you may have gotten breast tissue damage or scarring in your breast.
  
  
• Scarred areas inside the breast can pinch on an area of your breast tissue and cause it to die. This can affect the normal shape of your breasts and make them look very different from each other. You may need other operations if you have problems with your breast or breast implants after surgery. Having another surgery puts you at risk for more damage to your breast.

Can the way my surgery was done affect my ability to breastfeed my baby?

• The way your breast implant surgery was done is an important factor for your ability to breastfeed. The surgery can cut breast tissue and damage milk glands and ducts, which make and carry milk in the breast. Some ways have a much higher risk for causing breastfeeding problems than others. The most important factor is the type of incision (surgical cut) made in your breast to place the implant. An incision made around or across your areola (dark circle around the nipple) can damage the nerves. This can lead to you having a decrease or loss of feeling in your areola and nipple. Incisions may be done under the breast, or in the armpit or belly button to prevent damage to milk ducts and glands or nerves.
  
  
• Where your implants are placed is also a factor for your ability to breastfeed. Breast implants may be placed in between your breast tissue and chest muscle. They can also be placed under the chest muscle, to prevent damage to milk ducts and nerves. Incisions may be made through fatty tissue, found under your breast tissue, to put the implants in place. This method decreases, but does not take away, the damage to breast tissue. In either approach, the nerves that go to your nipple can be damaged. This causes loss of feeling to your nipple may lead to loss of the let-down response and decreases your breasts' ability to make milk.

Can I breastfeed if I have breast implants?

• You can breastfeed even with breast implants. Breastfeeding is very important and has many good effects for both you and your baby. Not all women who have breast implants have problems with breastfeeding. With breast implants, your breasts may make less milk. The implants may push on nearby breast tissue and cause that part of it to die. They may be too big and use up the space for breast milk. This may decrease the amount of breast milk made or stored in your breast.
  
  
• Implants can also pinch milk ducts, block the flow of breast milk, and make your breasts swell. You may feel more pain when your breasts are full of milk. Pain may increase while breastfeeding and may cause you to want to stop breastfeeding. If you had implant surgery done because your breasts never fully developed, you may not have enough milk glands for making milk.

What may be the risks to my baby? You may worry that chemicals in your breast implants will mix with breast milk. Some breast implants are filled with saline water and caregivers see no harmful effect if saline water mixes with breast milk. Some breast implants contain a chemical called silicone. Caregivers are not sure how it will affect your baby if it mixes with breast milk. Some women, even those without breast implants, cannot make enough milk to feed their newborn baby. They may need to feed their babies formula as well as breast milk. The risk of this happening is much greater for women who have had breast surgery.

What good effects can my baby and I get from breastfeeding?

• For your baby:
  
  
  • Best food for your baby: Breast milk has the right amounts of energy, nutrients, and vitamins needed for your baby's brain and body growth. Breast milk is easily broken down and taken in by your baby's digestive system. The nutrients that make up breast milk also change and give more energy and vitamins as your baby gets older. With breast milk, there is very little risk for your baby getting constipated (having hard, dry stools) or having stomach problems.
    
    
  • Decreases risk for infections and diseases: Breastfed babies have fewer infections in their ears, lungs, intestines, and brain. They may have a lower risk of getting sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). They may also have a lower risk for getting diseases such as asthma, eczema (itching, weeping skin disorder), childhood diabetes, or heart problems. Breastfed babies are less likely to be overfed and gain more weight than they should. This may reduce their risk for being obese later in life.
    
    
  • Physical and mental growth: Breastfeeding helps with how your child's jaws and teeth grow. It may also help with his ability to talk later on. His brain and mental abilities may develop early. The longer you breastfeed your baby, the better his brain and mental abilities may be.
    
    
  • Strengthens your baby's immune system: The immune system is your baby's defense against germs and infections. Your antibodies (substances that fight germs) mix with breast milk and are shared with your baby during breastfeeding. Your antibodies help your baby fight germs and prevent infections.
    
    
  • Strengthens bond between you and your baby: Breastfeeding offers emotional and other good effects for you and your baby. Breastfeeding can help strengthen the bond you and your baby have with one another. Breastfeeding is an intimate, special experience the two of you share. Breastfeeding your baby can help increase your confidence in caring for your baby, especially if you are a first-time mother.
  
  
• For you:
  
  
  • After delivery recovery: Breastfeeding immediately after the delivery of your baby helps stop bleeding from your uterus (womb). It also helps shrink your uterus back to the size as it was before your pregnancy during the weeks after delivery.
    
    
  • Delays and reduces your monthly period: If you are breastfeeding without giving your baby any formula, the return of your monthly period should be delayed. When it does return, your monthly period will come less often and you will bleed less. This helps you save nutrients, such as iron, found in your blood. Your chances of getting pregnant again are reduced while you are breastfeeding. You will still need to use some form of birth control to ensure that you do not get pregnant. Ask your caregiver for more information about birth control methods you can use while breastfeeding.
    
    
  • Easier to prepare: Your breast milk is available at no cost and requires no preparation. Breast milk is easy to get, clean, fresh, and at the right temperature. You can breastfeed anywhere when your baby gets hungry. You can quickly feed your baby because you do not need to make or warm milk formula. There is no need to bring formula, bottles, or other things with you when going somewhere.
    
    
  • Healthy weight loss effect: Your body uses up to 500 extra calories a day to support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can lead to loss of the extra weight and fat you gained during pregnancy. It may also reduce your risk for obesity. You will need to eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids. This will help ensure that your body has enough nutrients and water to make all the breast milk your baby needs. Ask your caregiver for more information about breastfeeding and your diet.
    
    
  • Helps prevent certain diseases: Breastfeeding can control or decrease the amount of sugar in your blood. It can help protect against breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer. Breastfeeding can help make your bones stronger and prevent osteoporosis.

How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk?

• When your baby gets enough breast milk, he should have a steady weight gain. Your caregiver will frequently check your baby's weight to see if he is growing as fast as he should. Your baby should also be passing urine and stools often. Ask your caregiver how much and how often your child should pass urine and stool.
  
  
• If your baby is not getting enough milk during breastfeeding, you may need to talk with a Lactation Consultant. This person can help you with breastfeeding problems, such as not making enough milk or a baby that is not suckling well. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to to tell if your baby is getting enough breast milk, and how to increase your milk supply. If your baby's caregiver still has concerns that your baby is not getting enough breast milk, he may need to be given milk formula. It is used to give your baby additional energy and nutrients that he is not getting. The milk formula is usually fed using a bottle several times a day. This makes up for your decreased breast milk, so that your baby can gain weight and grow as he should. Talk to your baby's caregiver if you have questions or concerns about his weight gain or if he needs formula to supplement your breastfeeding.

I am thinking about, but have not yet had breast implant surgery. What other questions should I ask my caregiver? Ask your caregiver if saline or silicone implants will be used. Ask your caregiver how he would plan to do the surgery. This includes where the cuts in your skin would be made, and how the implants would be placed. Ask him if they would be pre-filled, or filled after being placed inside you. Ask him if you will have drains placed after surgery. Ask your caregiver to explain to you how these factors can affect your ability to breastfeed a baby.

When should I call my caregiver? Call your caregiver if:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• Your baby is very sleepy or very irritable.
  
  
• Your baby refuses to breastfeed for more than 8 hours.
  
  
• You feel you are not making enough breast milk for your baby.
  
  
• You feel a lump or a hard area in your breast.
  
  
• Your breasts become hard, painful, or swollen, or you cannot get your milk to flow.
  
  
• Your breasts do not feel full before feedings and softer after breastfeeding.

Where can I get more information? Ask for information about breastfeeding and make sure caregivers know that breastfeeding is important to you. Ask your caregiver for the name of a Lactation Consultant. This person is specially trained to help women breastfeed their babies. Ask caregivers to help you find a breastfeeding class before your baby is born. Join a breastfeeding support group. Contact the following for more information:

• La Leche League International
  1400 N. Meacham Rd
  Schaumburg, IL 60173-4808
  Phone: 1-847-519-7730
  Web Address: http://www.lalecheleague.org
  

• The National Women's Health Information Center
  Phone: 1-800-994-9662
  Web Address: http://www.4woman.gov
  

• Women, Infants and Children Program
  Food and Nutrition Services
  WIC Program
  Supplemental Food Programs Division
  Alexandria, VA 22302
  Phone: 1-703-305-2196
  Web Address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to choose how you are going to feed your baby. To help with this plan, you must learn as much as you can about breastfeeding. You may ask your caregiver for more information or join a group with other breastfeeding mothers. You and your caregiver can work together to plan the best way to feed your baby.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page