How implants can affect breastfeeding

There is consensus in the medical and public-health communities that breast milk provides essential nutrition for babies in addition to improving their immune responses to various infections. Moreover, breastfeeding is beneficial to the mother as well, helping to create a psychological bond between her and the infant and aiding postpartum recovery.

 Nowadays, breast implants have become a lot more common, especially among younger women. When these individuals become pregnant, some of them immediately get anxious about whether they will be able to breastfeed their infants or if the implants will interfere with the production of milk.

IS BREASTFEEDING POSSIBLE?

According to the Institute of Medicine, a woman who undergoes any kind of breast surgery, including the insertion of implants, is at least three times more likely that a woman will have an inadequate supply of breast milk. The possibility of her successfully breastfeeding her infant will depend on a number of surgery-related factors, most of which have to do with the type of surgery she had. Usually, incisions made under the fold of the breast or through the armpit shouldn't cause any trouble. However, the more popular method of making a "smile" incision around the areola _ the coloured skin surrounding the nipples _ puts the women at greater risk of encountering difficulties in breastfeeding. Mothers who have had this kind of operation are five times more likely to have an insufficient supply of milk than women who have never had breast surgery.


WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEMS?

It is not yet entirely clear whether the cause is the implants, the surgery, or a combination of both factors.

One possibility is that the surgery may damage the milk-producing and transferring ducts. That is especially likely if the implants are inserted by means of an areolar incision. Another possibility is that the breast implant may be putting pressure on the breast tissue, which could damage the tissue and thereby diminish the rate of milk production.

Nerves can also be damaged during surgery and this could decrease feeling in the nipple area. These nerve endings are vital for breastfeeding because they trigger a reaction that tells the brain to release prolactin and oxytocin, the hormones that affect milk production. The chances of successful breastfeeding improve if no nerves were cut or damaged during surgery.

WILL MY IMPLANTS LEAK?

Another common concern among expecting mothers is the spectre of silicon or saline solution leaking from breast implants into the milk and possible poisoning the baby. There is no evidence that silicone or saline has ever leaked from implants and contaminated breast milk. But even if there was some leakage, it would not harm the baby.

One important thing to be aware of is that you will never know the full extent of the damage, if any, caused by breast surgery until such time as you try to nurse your newborn child. So, let the doctor supervising your pregnancy know that you've had breast surgery. And if you do have trouble breastfeeding later on, your physician will be able to advise on how best to supplement your breast milk with baby formula, if that should prove necessary.

So, if you're thinking about getting breast implants, it might be a good idea to postpone the surgery until after you've given birth to and breastfed the last child you intend to have.