 Dr.
Jane Morton,
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School
of Medicine, is an expert on nursing premature infants as well
as a
member of the Breastfeeding.com medical advisory board. Dr.
Morton has answered many of your breastfeeding questions.
Dr. Morton works one-on-one with new mothers at the
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University,
teaching moms how to breastfeed successfully. In 1997, Focus
Magazine named Dr. Morton one of the "Best Doctors in the
Bay Area," and she was again selected by her peers as one
of "Silicon Valley's Best Physicians" as reported in
The Sane Jose Magazine in 1999.
 Will surgery affect my
ability to nurse future children?
| NAME: |
Lori |
| BABY'S NAME: |
Terrell |
| BABY'S AGE: |
7 months |
| BIRTH WEIGHT: |
8 lbs |
|
CURRENT WEIGHT: |
17 1/2 lbs |
I
have a suspicious lump in my left breast that has been biopsied,
and my surgeon now recommends removal. I am now needing to wean
my son earlier than I had originally planned. How will this
surgical procedure affect my ability to nurse future children?
Are there certain ways this procedure can be performed to
increase my chances of successful
future nursing?
Dear
Lori,
First let me say that I think it is wise to take out any
suspicious lump, although I'm sure you know that over 95% of
the time these lumps are benign. That means lumpectomy is a
frequent procedure and usually has no impact on future
breastfeeding ability. A note of caution - it is very important
not to interrupt the ducts closest to the lactiferous sinuses,
the little reservoirs of milk that lie beneath the areola.
Most
surgeons can approach a lump located in this area cautiously and
from "behind." Remember that normally women can
produce enough milk to nurse even multiples, so that a small
section of breast tissue removed should not have significant
impact if the collecting system is not significantly impaired.
Hope that is clear.
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