What You Need to Know about Breastfeeding and Breast Implants
Breastfeeding is very important because no other nutritional product for your baby can rival breast milk’s potency to protect your child from infection, allergies, and diabetes. In turn, the act of breastfeeding can also work to your advantage because it is known to decrease your risk for diabetes, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Breastfeeding with implants can be an uncomfortable situation for some mothers. If you have implants, you will feel more pain when your breasts are filled with milk compared to mothers who don’t have implants. Breastfeeding milk supply can be a tremendous help in this situation.
You can, of course, breastfeed your baby even if you have implants. Breast implants are small bags which are filled with saline water or silicone gel. There are no known risks to your baby. But there is mixed advice regarding the safety of silicone or saline water mixing with breast milk. Talk to your doctor or health provider first before breastfeeding your baby.
There is a tendency for the breast implants to press in the nearby breast tissue and put pressure on it. Thus, the breast area will become constricted and less milk can be stored inside your breasts. Moreover, breast implants can pinch your milk ducts and eventually block the outward flow of breast milk. This will make your breasts swell, and when they are full, you will feel pain. The pain will even worsen when you breastfeed.
The method by which your breast implant surgery was performed may affect how you breastfeed. The type of incision or cut done on your breast to secure the implant will have a direct influence to your breastfeeding. If the incision is made around or across the areola, then it can damage the nerves around it. In turn, this may desensitize or lessen the feeling in your areola and nipple and will make breastfeeding more difficult. If the incision is done under the breast, in the belly button, or in the armpit, then you must be thankful because this surgical cut will avoid any damage to your milk ducts, nerves, or glands.
The location of your breast implants also matter and will influence your ability to breastfeed. If the implants are placed under the chest muscle, then the silicone will go with your breast milk. In addition, breast implants can be lodged under the chest muscle in order to prevent any damage to the nerves or milk ducts.
|
