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 [log in to unmask]