Breasts are an important part of the female anatomy. Many women opt to change their breast sizes due to various reasons. Just like one can reduce the size of the breasts, one can increase it too. While reducing is just cutting out tissue, increasing the size requires implants. Your plastic surgeon will place silicone implants to increase the size of the breasts. A woman who wants to have a baby may have many questions regarding breast implants.
Now, can you breastfeed with these implants? Is it safe for you and the baby? Many women can breastfeed despite getting breast implants. It all depends on the size, placement of the implants, and process of the surgery itself. If your milk ducts are still intact without any blocks, breastfeeding should not be a problem.
In This Article
- Is it Safe to Breastfeed After Breast Implants?
- How Do Breast Implants Affect Breastfeeding?
- Top 3 Problems Breastfeeding Mothers May Face Due to Breast Implants
- Top 5 Tips to Help Mothers Breastfeed With Breast Implants
- FAQ’s
Is it Safe to Breastfeed After Breast Implants?
The biggest concern for any mother with breast implants is – is it safe to breastfeed the baby. You have foreign material in your body after all, can it affect the baby in any way? Can the silicone from the implants affect breast milk?
There is no sufficient data to prove breastfeeding with implants can be dangerous to the baby. Studies in this area revealed that breast milk did have some silicon content, but it was not higher in comparison to the breast milk from mothers without implants.
As far as studies go, doctors do not advise against breastfeeding after implants. Studies have proven it to be safe. However, some doctors might have different opinions. So, discuss with your doctor, clarify all your doubts and make a clear decision.
How Do Breast Implants Affect Breastfeeding?
Breast implants need not have any effect on breastfeeding if:
- They are placed behind the milk glands
- The cut is made under the chest muscles instead of cutting around the areola
- The incision is made through the belly button or the armpit
Sometimes, breast implants can affect breastfeeding. Here are some instances where it can impact breastfeeding:
1. Mastectomy
Some women may undergo a total or partial mastectomy due to breast cancer. Here, the surgery might require the removal of entire or part of the breast tissues, to remove cancer. In such cases, breastfeeding may be difficult as the mastectomy can affect or disconnect the milk ducts.
2. Placement Of Implants
If the implants are placed by cutting around the areola, the milk production will depend upon how many milk ducts are still intact.
3. Hypoplastic Breasts
This is a surgery to reconstruct breasts of an odd shape or with insufficient breast tissues. Some women may face difficulty in producing milk if they have undergone this surgery before their implants. They may still be able to breastfeed, but the milk may not be sufficient for the baby.
Top 3 Problems Breastfeeding Mothers May Face Due to Breast Implants
Most mothers with implants do not face any issues while breastfeeding. Some mothers may encounter the following issues when they try to breastfeed with implants:
1. Milk Production
If the breast implants were placed by making an incision around the areola or if the areola was disturbed during the implant surgery, some of the milk ducts could be removed. This in turn can cause a fall in milk production during breastfeeding.
2. Sensation
There are many nerve endings around the nipple. The baby sucking on this part of the breast helps increase milk secretion. If any of these nerves are cut during a breast implant, it can affect the sensation the mother has when the baby sucks on the breast. With less or no sensation, the mother may not be able to produce milk as per the baby’s demand.
3. Engorgement
Breast engorgement is a part of the breastfeeding journey. However, if you have implants, this engorgement could be more. Sometimes breast engorgement can lead to mastitis. If you have implants, the pain and the resulting fever could be slightly more. You may experience more pain, or the fever might last longer as it might take more time for the engorgement to subside.
These are not problems you can predict with accuracy. If your surgeon confirms cutting out the milk ducts, then you can expect an issue with breastfeeding. Else, you need to wait till you can breastfeed your baby. You may or may not experience problems. If most of the milk ducts are intact, you can still produce enough milk.
Sometimes, the surgery might affect just one breast, leading you to breastfeed from the other breast. Mothers can still produce enough milk with just one breast and supplement it with formula or donor milk as per requirement.
[Read : Breast Engorgement]
Top 5 Tips to Help Mothers Breastfeed With Breast Implants
If you have breast implants, you can still have a successful breastfeeding journey. Here are a few tips to help you:
1. Frequent Breastfeeding
Just like any other breastfeeding mother, try to breastfeed as frequently as possible. The more your baby sucks on the breasts, the more milk will be produced. Aim to breastfeed a minimum of 8 to 10 times a day until your production is sufficient to meet the baby’s demands.
2. Breastfeeding From Both Sides
Ensure you breastfeed from both sides during every feeding session. As mentioned above, the more your baby sucks on the breasts, the more the milk supply will be. So, if you breastfeed from both sides, in every session, both breasts will fill with milk.
3. Empty Your Breasts
Aim to empty your breasts every feeding session. If your baby does not empty it, you can pump the excess milk and store it for later use. Expressing milk along with breastfeeding can help increase the milk supply.
[Read : Storing Your Breast Milk]
4. Galactagogues
Consult your lactation specialist and take herbal or non-herbal galactagogues or supplements that can help increase breast milk supply. While there are many ancestral and home remedies, there is not enough scientific data to back them up. You can try such remedies with your doctor’s approval or opt for over-the-counter medications that can help with the supply.
[Read : Best Foods To Increase Breast Milk]
5. Proper Latch
Your baby’s latch is very important. Even if you are producing sufficient milk, if your baby’s latch is improper, it can not only affect the milk supply but can also affect the baby’s health. An improper latch can also make breastfeeding more painful than it should be.
Breastfeeding is a beautiful journey mothers enjoy. Breast implants need not hinder this journey. If they were placed without impacting the milk ducts, then you can definitely breastfeed if you feel it is safe for your child. If you have any questions about breastfeeding with breast implants, do talk to your surgeon, gynecologist, and a lactation consultant for further advice on how to handle your unique situation.
FAQ’s
1. Can Breast Augmentation Leak Into Breast Milk?
There is not much data about this. But from the few studies that were conducted, breast milk from mothers with implants and milk from mothers without implants – both had similar levels of silicone in them. Since silicone is present all around us, there is no clear proof that breast augmentation can leak into breast milk.
2. How Do You Know if Your Body is Rejecting Breast Implants?
It is normal for breasts to feel swollen and tender after implants. However, if your breasts continue to look engorged and feel painful, it could indicate a problem. It can happen even years after successful surgery, requiring you to consult your doctor at the earliest.
3. Can Breastfeeding Affect Breast Implants?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding change the shape of the breasts. So, breasts with implants can look different after pregnancy and breastfeeding but the implants themselves may not have any impact.
Read Also: Breastfeeding After Breast Cancer – Everything You Need to Know
