Breastfeeding With Breast Implants Might Pose Problems
Saurabh Jain
June 03, 2007
Many women go in for breast implants to augment their breasts without realizing that breastfeeding with breast implants can pose many difficulties and painful conditions. The ability to breastfeed might be impaired when you have a surgery to place the implants in your breasts as there might be incisions around the aureole and the breast. As such, many women have to resort to feeding formula-based foods, which is not the ideal situation for their babies as you can never substitute mother’s milk.
Types Of Breast Implants And Methods Of Insertion
Silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implants are most commonly used for breast augmentation. Incisions might be made on or around the areola which is the dark area surrounding the nipple in which case there is likelihood of cutting and damaging the milk ducts or nerves. The other system of introduction of implants is by making incisions in the armpit or under the breast in which case the implants are placed behind the milk ducts and there is less chance of causing damage to the nerves or milk ducts.
Disadvantages Of Implants
Although you might be producing enough milk after insertion of implants, breastfeeding with breast implants might become difficult due to the fact that the milk might face hurdles in its passage through the damaged ducts up to the nipples. Moreover, if during the surgery there is any damage to the nerves on the nipple and areola, the production of milk might get affected as the damaged nerves might not be able to transmit signals to the brain to release the hormones, Prolactin and Oxytocin that are instrumental in producing and releasing breast milk.
The other major disadvantage of silicone breast implants is that there is likelihood of the silicone leaking into the breast milk. However, silicone implants are not very prevalent nowadays as they are mostly used in clinical studies. Saline water filled implants are more common and they do not pose many problems. It’s not very easy to measure the silicone content in the breast milk. Milk duct or nerve damage can cause engorgement or fullness of the breast.
It’s important to check whether your baby is getting sufficient quantity of breastfeeding with breast implants. To ensure the same, you need to check the weight of your baby every week. If you feel that your baby is not getting enough milk through your breastfeed, you might have to give a breastfeeding formula or supplement to augment the nutritional requirements of your baby.
The supplements might be given through a bottle of formula which can be done once or more every day. There is also a supplemental nursing system in which a tube is connected to a formula filled container on one side and the other side is taped to the nipple when the baby has finished with your breast. This will enable the baby to get the formula or supplement as it continues to suckle the nipple of your breast.
In order to present a fuller look, you might be tempted to augment your breasts and go in for a cosmetic enhancement program. But it is worth pondering whether this arrangement would be good for you and your baby in the long run and whether you are prepared to face the problems of breastfeeding with breast implants.
Breastfeeding with breast implants could cause problems in breastfeeding. Pregnancy Period provides answers to all your questions related to breastfeeding help, breastfeeding supplies, breastfeeding bras and anything to everything you would like to know about pregnancy and childbirth.
Types Of Breast Implants And Methods Of Insertion
Silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implants are most commonly used for breast augmentation. Incisions might be made on or around the areola which is the dark area surrounding the nipple in which case there is likelihood of cutting and damaging the milk ducts or nerves. The other system of introduction of implants is by making incisions in the armpit or under the breast in which case the implants are placed behind the milk ducts and there is less chance of causing damage to the nerves or milk ducts.
Disadvantages Of Implants
Although you might be producing enough milk after insertion of implants, breastfeeding with breast implants might become difficult due to the fact that the milk might face hurdles in its passage through the damaged ducts up to the nipples. Moreover, if during the surgery there is any damage to the nerves on the nipple and areola, the production of milk might get affected as the damaged nerves might not be able to transmit signals to the brain to release the hormones, Prolactin and Oxytocin that are instrumental in producing and releasing breast milk.
The other major disadvantage of silicone breast implants is that there is likelihood of the silicone leaking into the breast milk. However, silicone implants are not very prevalent nowadays as they are mostly used in clinical studies. Saline water filled implants are more common and they do not pose many problems. It’s not very easy to measure the silicone content in the breast milk. Milk duct or nerve damage can cause engorgement or fullness of the breast.
It’s important to check whether your baby is getting sufficient quantity of breastfeeding with breast implants. To ensure the same, you need to check the weight of your baby every week. If you feel that your baby is not getting enough milk through your breastfeed, you might have to give a breastfeeding formula or supplement to augment the nutritional requirements of your baby.
The supplements might be given through a bottle of formula which can be done once or more every day. There is also a supplemental nursing system in which a tube is connected to a formula filled container on one side and the other side is taped to the nipple when the baby has finished with your breast. This will enable the baby to get the formula or supplement as it continues to suckle the nipple of your breast.
In order to present a fuller look, you might be tempted to augment your breasts and go in for a cosmetic enhancement program. But it is worth pondering whether this arrangement would be good for you and your baby in the long run and whether you are prepared to face the problems of breastfeeding with breast implants.
Breastfeeding with breast implants could cause problems in breastfeeding. Pregnancy Period provides answers to all your questions related to breastfeeding help, breastfeeding supplies, breastfeeding bras and anything to everything you would like to know about pregnancy and childbirth.
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