Ilene,
I had a very close situation myself a few years back. Mom had
successfully breastfed two children, then had implants. When baby #3
came, she nursed him the same as the first two, but he became failure to
thrive. The kicker: she didn't tell me about the surgery until our
*second* meeting. She is a member of my church and very embarassed to
have her "vanity" revealed; I was sworn to secrecy. First important fact
for her: a peri-areolar cut, which is the most damaging of the three
usuals. Second: it turned out that she was newly pregnant at the time of
surgery, though it was unknown then.  The incision site alone is
explanation for a lot of her difficulty, but add the short time between
surgery and baby, and it spells disaster. Often some of the damaged
nerves will recanalize, but in her case there just wasn't enough time.

It sounds like your mom had an incision under the breast. The question
that I would ask her first is how much nipple sensitivity she has
compared to before the surgery. Are there any numb areas on the nipple or
breast? Secondly, did her milk come in similarly to the other two babies,
or was it markedly different? Any problems with plugs or engorgement?
The second should help define any mechanical blockages of drainage, while
the first should help determine nerve damage, which affects stimulation.
How long has it been since the surgery? This is also important. While
many women with implants can breastfeed successfully, the above factors
can sabotage the normal process.

-Lisa

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Lisa A. Marasco, IBCLC                                /  [log in to unmask]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant    /  [log in to unmask]

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