Marianne writes:


When the incision is close to the areola, in order to give the wound rest, you 
will not be able to let your baby drink from the treated breast. Apart from 
that, you don't need to worry about your baby taking in a little bit of blood or 
septum (? wound fluid) with the milk.
In case of a bacterial infection, it is not always possible to feed the baby at 
the infected breast. Discuss this with your HCP. In many cases it is necessary 
to empty the breast by pumping. Like the milk itself, the flow of the milk 
enhances healing of the breast.
Robin writes: 

As you may have seen my recent post on this topic.  I went w/pt to surgeon 
f/u to be able to get some knowledge.  Her it goes:

My pts abcess was drained by cutting into the aerola border at 12 and 10.  It 
was 3 1/2 inches across and very deep.  drained 1 and 1/2 cups of pus.
Baby was able to nurse, if mom could stand the pain.  Fluid your thinking of is 
serous fluid. (normal fluid in our bodies). Septum is the word for a dividing part 
of the body. Such as a nasal septum. The pts are on antibiotics so bacteria is 
taken care of.  Sometimes (in my case) the breast was traumatized a bit.  Milk 
leaked out of the wound.  This is normal..  She didn't pump.  Breast did not 
get engorged.  Put baby to breast with nipple shield once after 6 days post 
op.  Most milk drained from incision. I am repeating the part about milk draining 
from open wound as many pts may find this distressing.  It is completely 
normal as milk will travel to the path of least resistance.  Also, milk helps the 
wound heal with its epithelial producing properties.

1) not everyone can tolerate putting a baby or pump or hand to breast.
2) A bacterial abcess is treated with antibiotics.  Baby can nurse.
3) You do not need to worry about pulling the skin and damaging the incision 
from baby or pumping or hand expressing.
4) Milk and serous fluid may leak from the wound.
5) Remove milk from breast anyway the pt can tolerate.
6) Milk that leaks from incision is at least releaving the breast. 

Not all breasts will become abcesses again if milk cannot be removed.  I just 
found this out.  Please read my postings and the comments I received.  I think 
you will find this helpful. 

best,
robin

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