Rob,

I spoke to a woman last summer who had a reduction about 12 years ago. She
called expecting me to say that she wouldn't be able to breastfeed. I
encouraged her to try that no one could possibly predict the outcome and to
just start off as if it was going to workout with also keeping an eye on his
weight, diapers, and all the other signs. Her surgeon had made her sign a
paper saying that she would not sue him if she wasn't able to breastfeed
since the surgery they had to perform (actually removing growths of some sort
all over both breasts) would require being cut around the bottom of the
breasts up to the nipple and removing the nipple and then removing so many
growths in and around the ducts.

I spoke to the mom for the first time tonight (since summer) and she said
that the baby is now 4 months old and he has only been supplemented 3 times
and that was during growth spurts that she just felt after him nursing for 3
hours she couldn't go another minute. I am so happy that this mom has been
able to breastfeed!  It also feels very good to hear that things did work
out! The thank you also felt wonderful!

So there is no way to know or not if it will work. Depends on moms body and
her determination and her *belief* in her own body.

If your mom has Internet capabilities send her to
http://www.magsi.com/liquidgold/index.html   she will find information and
there is also a support list that she can join that has only moms who have
had reductions and are breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding. It is a
very private list that is a wealth of information for these moms. The list
owner is a personal friend who has been there done it and wants to help other
moms.

Belinda Bohnert
Nursing Matters
Breastpump Sales & Rental
Information, Encouragement & Support

<< She successfully breastfed the first about 5 years ago then had breast
 reduction surgery.
 She tells me the surgeon not only moved her areola/nipples but actually took
 them off then reattached them, "put them aside" during the surgery she told
 me.
 On questioning she says she has a lot of numbness around the nipple/areola
 areas.
 I don't like the sounds of this.
 Anyway to asses her chances of successful lactation prior to delivery?
 Thanks,
 Rob >>

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