I recently had the following experience with a patient who had surgery on
a lactating breast.  The outcome was excellent.  Here's what happened:  A
few weeks before delivery, a lump was found in her  right breast.  She
began breastfeeding on both breasts.  A week or so after delivery the lump
was removed and found to be benign.  The surgeon wanted her to completely
wean, but was willing to see if there was another way.  The incision would
not heal, because breastmilk kept draining out of it.  I thought perhaps
moist wound healing would work, but this would not because of the constant
flow of breastmilk.  Mom began a slow process of weaning the right breast
and increasing feeds on the left breast.  When the baby was down to one
feeding per day on the right breast and all other feeds on the left, the
incision healed.  She then slowly increased feedings on the right breast.
She is now feeding baby from both breasts, the incision is healed.  I do
not have the time frame handy as I am not in my office right now, but at
home (a day off, kids are on Easter break, and I get to hang out on
LACTNET!).

Hope this helps.

Donna Zitzelberger, RN BSN IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html