Breastfeeding and Implants

Usually people with implants do fine as long as the ducts were mangeled in the process. The baby may have a harder time latching on because you breast are firmer than they would be otherwise.

To answer you new question about what happens. I don't know about saging but I have heard of the implants moving. I guess when the milk ducts are full there may not be enough room for them to expand so the implant will move. I've heard of implants moving up into the shoulder area or armpit area. I think this is pretty rare.

I work as a RN on a postpartum unit in Madison, WI. Our hospital requires that all moms who have had any kind of breast surgery have a lactation consultant see them right away in the hospital. We also start moms pumping right away each time after nursing baby every 3-4 hrs. We reccomend that the moms continue pumping at home with an electric double pump(both breasts at the same time) The Ameda or Medela are good pumps.We watch the babys weight and pees and poops to make sure baby is getting enough. Sometimes if babys weight drops too much the peds reccomend supplementing with either pumped breast milk or formula after each nsg session until your milk comes in. Sometimes after breast surgery there is scarring or the ducts have been cut and the milk supply is not enough to solely sustain your baby, sometimes there is no problem with milk supply. You will just have to wait and see...hope this info helps:)

Hi Marina,
My sister-in-law had breast implants before she had their 2 children and she nursed both of them completely and exclusively until they were about 4 months of age. She had plenty of milk and no problem nursing or pumping once she went back to work.

I would think you'll do just fine - remember to relax while you are learning to nurse ... your baby can sense anxiety so know that you both will be in a brief learning stage until you get into the routine of it.

Best Wishes!
D.

I have not had implants, but I have been through nursing difficulty, so I just wanted to add a very quick thought. First of all, you may want to talk to your plastic surgeon to see if they have any resources to suggest; you can't be the first person to have these questions. You may also want to talk to a lactation consultant (I found one through the hospital where I delivered) or La Leche League. I've heard lots of different stories; some people didn't like La Leche League, but I had some questions and was really happy with their website and with the local representative I called.

Good luck, and congratulations on the pregnancy!

Hi
I had breast implants when I turned 30 then two years later i had my first son. I breastfed him and 11 months after my first son was born i had my second son and also breastfed him. They say it depends on how you had your implants placed- armpit?,bellyutton?,underbreast? or throughthe nipple- the only one that could prevent you from breastfeeding would be the one through the nipple b/c they sometimes cut through milk ducts.
good luck i hope this helps you

Hi Marina,
I got breast implants at a young age when I was not really thinking about kids. 10 years later I have three children all who I have nursed successfully. I was able to nurse my first daughter until she was one, my second baby I pumped for and was successful and my son is now almost 8 mos old and I am still nursing him. I have had no problems at all. I actually sometimes forget that I even have the implants! I say go for it! I think you will be surprised how "normal" it is! Hope that helps!

I had implants about 3 years before my first child was born and I breastfed him and my second child for a year. I had plenty of milk and never had to supplement. I was told that it depends on the incision though. If you had your incision around the areola, there is a greater chance of having milk ducts disrupted. I went through the armpit with mine. I don't think you can know for sure until after you are producing milk. Good luck!

Marina,
Although I have not yet had the surgery ( I was actually scheduled to have implants on 5/28 but I canceled it for a couple of reason), I do know a little bit about it because that was one of my questions that I asked at my consult.

It depends on where your implants are located; are they above or below your chest muscles? If they are below, then you will have no problem breastfeed, as your breast tissue is exactly the same; if it is above the muscle, however, then it might be more challenging.

Hope this helps.

I don't have breast implants, but it all depends on what kind of surgery was done weither you'll be able to nurse or not have to talk to the surg. that did your implants to see if it's possible. If the surgery didn't affect your nip and milk ducts you should be able to nurse like they are your natural breats. I know my cousin was able to for the first 2 months but stopped to go back to work. Hope everything goes good

I have known both situations to occur. I have known some who have had implants and only gets drops of milk to women who have them and overproduce milk. You will not know until the baby is here and you get through the first week and start pumping. Were the implants under or over the muscle? This can effect the outcome as well. I say, just wait until the baby arrives, be ready to supplement and be ver cautious the first 2 weeks about how you feed the baby. Be sure to get a good pump as well.