Dear Lactnetters,
     I have a friend who worked with the WIC program who has a question
about  ectopic breast tissue in her arm pit (axilla).  She has
successfully nursed  two children with this breast tissue filling with
milk after each birth and causing her great pain during the first few
days that her breasts are getting milk.  She reports that it gets as hard
as a golf ball, with no way to relieve the engorgement because there is
no real developed extra nipple, only a brown area with a very
underdeveloped nipple.  She can squeeze a little bit of milk out of this
area, but it is very painful. With each pregnancy, It has developed
further and was much more painful and more engorged with the second
pregnancy.
     My friend is considering having a third baby and has seen a surgeon
about having it removed before she gets pregnant.  She is very concerned
as to how this might affect her breastfeeding success with the next baby.
 She is also concerned that it might develop again after the third baby
comes along or even during the third pregnancy.
     Ruth Lawrence states, in her book that in rare cases, it may be
appropriate to surgically remove the tissue.  She does not, however give
any information as to how this might affect future lactation.
     If anyone has any experience counseling women with this condition,
we would appreciate your input.

Thank you,
Cathy Gaston, IBCLC
Greenville, MS