A mom I just saw today in the hospital, 24 hrs. postpartum, has no
glistening of colostrum on her nipples after baby nurses, when she uses a
Medela Classic or when I try to hand express.  She has had 3 breast
surgeries for biopsies, all negative.  However, all were done by cutting
around the areola  to avoid visible scars.  One was from 10 to 2 o'clock on
Right breast, another 11 to 3 o'clock and a third at 5 to 8 o'clock  on
Right breast.  The nipples are sensitive and repond to touch.  She reports
no loss of sensation.

I have a lot of questions - starting with:

Are there any studies that show that cutting longitudinally instead of
along the areola would be less damaging to the breast anatomy and therefore
the ducts and breastfeeding?

If so, what is the responsibility of the surgeon to explain the risks and
options to the woman before the surgery?

Please answer to me privately as well as to the lactnetters - I'm way
behind in my Lactnets - my mom was very sick and recently passed away.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Puerto Rico
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