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breastisbest
05-02-2008, 03:14 PM
Hi,

I have breast implants (over the muscle) and have managed to exclusively breastfeed my daughter for several months now. I am trying to figure out how much the implants are actually affecting my milk supply and ability to breastfeed. I had to go on domperidone and fenugreek to help with supply issues and i have cried and stressed SO much. i really regret the surgery now, bc of how it has affected nursing. Anyone else out there with the same sort of issue?

Anyway, my left breast produces less than my right one. My little one can only nurse on the left (active drinking/swallowing) for 1-2 minutes and then it is empty. Luckily my right breast can pick up the slack pretty well.

She is in the 25th percentile for weight and has been since birth so i guess we're doing an okay job? She was 7 lbs at birth and was 14 lbs 2 oz on her five month birthday.

Anyway, i didnt know what to expect at first-ie woudl i be able to breastfeed? But, when my milk came in, I did get engorged. I mean my milk def came in. SHe gained really well for the first 3 weeks (2 lbs in 3 weeks) and then wt gain slowed down to 4 oz - 5 oz per week (usually 4 oz). My left side used to leak when i was engorged but my right side would rarely leak (even though it produces more both with the pump and my little one can nurse longer on it). Is it possible that my left side has a smaller storage capacity? I dont understand why it leaks so easily but makes less milk.

Also, how much of a difference in supply does a baby with a slight preference for the right side make? basically i am wondering if the supply difference is due to capacity and also due to the fact that she kinda preferred the right side (hindsight is 20/20) or if it's due to the implant and surgery. after the surgery, my left nipple and aereolar area was numby and tingly and has never really returned to 100% normal.

sorry this post is so long.

RedheadbyChoice
05-02-2008, 03:23 PM
Well, bless your heart. :hug:

First, gaining 4-5 ounces a week is in the normal range for BF babes. So I'm not seeing an issue for you at all, quite honestly. Could be something with the procedure, as to why one leaks for than the other, but as long as you've got breast pads, you're good.

We have 2 breast in order to feed twins, right? Right. And there are women only use 1 breast; their babes are all fine. So 'tis not a biggie at all if babe prefers one breast over the other.

Does that help to answer your questions?

It sounds like things are going quite swimmingly for you, momma. *\o/*

Welcome to the boards.

~ginger

breastisbest
05-02-2008, 04:08 PM
thanks. you know, i never really thought of that. i never thought of nursing her only from one side, i mean i guess it is possible since women do nurse twins. however, if i have been using both breasts all along and i stop using the left (even though it doenst produce much anyway) will the right one continue to make the same or will it increase it's production to make up for the loss?

RedheadbyChoice
05-02-2008, 05:44 PM
As long as babe is nursing on it often, it'll make the milk that baby needs. But, I'd personally continue to nurse from both, if it were me.

There will be no 'loss', as the breasts make what milk is needed by how often babe is nursing. Supply and demand. If something dire happened, and your other breast were gone, you'd simply put babe to the breast you have, every time babe needed to eat. And that breast, because it's being nursed on often, would in turn make what baby needs.

ima062002
05-02-2008, 05:52 PM
Your right would make up for what the left doesn't produce anymore because your dd would nurse more often from it for a few days.

My left also produces less (no surgery though) and leakes (still does a few drops whenever I nurse from the right side and my dd is 17 mo). I think it has to do with the muscles that are involved in closing/opening the milk ducts. Some women have weaker muscles and will leak more.

mariemomtobe
11-02-2008, 06:30 PM
If anyone can help...
I got implants (saline) 9 yrs. ago. They cut the nipple, areola "smile" incision and went under the chest muscle.
I believe under the chest muscle gives me a better chance to feed?
Im 28 weeks pregnant now, I have no leakage- just a tiny drop of clear liquid after a hot shower. I also may have had some scarring, b/c I did bleed through the stitches when I got them done. I want to know what the chances are that I will be able to breastfeed? Would even 50% of my breasts work? Should I be leaking? I'm not. thanks.

SingingMom
11-02-2008, 08:20 PM
Not everybody leaks when pregnant. This is not something that you need to see to be sure that you'll make milk. If you are seeing a little liquid after a shower, well, that's good news! Things are already starting to work, and not everybody sees that.

What I hear from my friends who got implants is that many (maybe even most!) women who get implants these days ARE able to breastfeed without issues. Try not to worry about this too much yet, momma. What you're going to do after you have that baby is count wet diapers every day for a while, and perhaps go in for weigh-ins a little more frequently than the average momma.

Likely you will be absolutely fine. And yes, if just one breast will produce milk, then that breast can produce enough milk for your baby.