Got to work this am and was handed an article from the morning paper
by the ward secretary.  The study is in the January issue of the the Journal
of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The news article was in the LA Daily News by a
Theresa Tamkins from Medical Tribune News Service.

        The article states," In a study of 84 new mothers at a Texas
hospital, 64 percent of those with breast implants had problems producing
enough milk to feed their infants, while only 7 percent of women without
implants had such problems."   It goes on to describe how different types of
surgery would affect ability to breastfeed differently (i.e. where the
incision is -- around nipple, armpit, or under breast.)  The study author,
Nancy Hurse, director of the lactation program and the human milk bank at
Texas Children's Hospital in Houston states," breast surgery most likely
disrupts the nerves that are important for successful
breast-feeding...Normally when the baby begins to suckle, it triggers those
nerves to trigger hormones to release milk...If the nerves are severed, the
volume of milk to the child may be reduced."

        Dr. Marianne Neifert, a medical consultant to the lactation program
at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Med Center in Denver is quoted as saying, "An
incision around the nipple which is done to help make the scar less
noticeable, also may sever ducts that drain milk from the mammary gland...So
even if the mother has an adequate milk supply, it may be difficult for the
milk to drain into the nipple...eventually, that area of the breast will
shut down and stop producing milk...After working with a breast-feeding
clinic for more than a decade, Neifert said she suspected that
breast-implant surgery could affect a woman's ability to breast-feed."

        Dr. John William Little, president of the Plastic Surgery Education
Foundation at the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
AND Clinical professor of surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center in
Washington, D.C. states the following:  " the new study does not prove that
implant surgery interferes with breastfeeding...the report did not take into
account women's breast size before surgery, and BREAST SIZE CAN AFFECT A
WOMAN'S ABILITY TO LACTATE...MOST WOMEN SEEKING IMPLANTS DON'T COME IN WITH
ADEQUATE B OR C BREASTS...MOST COME IN BECAUSE THEY FEEL SOMEWHAT DEFORMED
BY THE LACK OF ADEQUATE BREASTS...IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ABOUT THE
WOMEN'S SMALLER BREASTS THAT CAUSED BREAST-FEEDING PROBLEMS--NOT THE IMPLANT
SURGERY." (my  caps!!!!!!!)   He goes on to say, "one surgical technique, in
which an incision is made around the nipple and breast tissue is cut to
place the implant, may interfere with breast-feeding...but that technique is
no longer commonly used...instead of cutting the breast tissue, surgeons now
maneuver around it...if it is in fact a problem, a patient needs to be told.
But we can't conclude it is a problem from the basis of this study".

        I can't believe the statements of this
doctor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Breast implant surgery has always bugged me
when done on normal healthy woman so they can have ADEQUATE B OR C
cups!!!!!!!!!!!!  I once spoke with a breastfeeding mom who was also a
plastic surgeon.  She had done several reductions and implants.  She told me
that once you get into the breast it looks like a bowl full of jelly and
it's very difficult to connect everything back up to even close to the way
it was.

        I can't help but feel this surgeon is worried that plastic surgeons
may start to lose all their business and big bucks on implant surgery if
this study is given any  high regard!

        Donna Zitzelberger RN BSN CLE
        Who was barely an A cup (i.e. a "flatsie") for many a year and
managed to produce  gobs and gobs of breastmilk for two sweet babes.   After
breastfeeding she is now a voluptuous (sarcasm intended) C!! (NO IMPLANTS
NEEDED).