It is an unfortunate fact of life that in many cases, the information you are presented with is tainted by the agenda of the person writing it. If you have been reading about breast augmentation and breastfeeding, which can be quite an emotional issue for many people, you have probably found a startling disparity in the information that different people give you, to the point where some things stated as ‘fact' are in direct contradiction. Today we aim to dispel some of the myths about breastfeeding and breast implants from both sides of the fence, and see how one affects the other.

Ability to produce enough milk

If there has been damage to some of the milk ducts, the canals that milk flows through in the breast, and even some of the nerves from the breast augmentation surgery, you may not be able to produce as much milk as usual. One troublesome thing about not quite being able to make enough milk for your baby is that less stimulation from feeding means that your breasts produce less milk … your baby gets more supplemental formula, and the cycle continues, usually until breastfeeding stops in around a month. Otherwise, feedings are needed at much shorter intervals.

However: Damage to milk ducts, to the extent that your milk production ability would be even moderately impaired, is rare with careful surgery. If you choose a breast implant size that is not excessively large and have them inserted through an underarm incision, you still have a good chance of making plenty of milk for your baby.

If your breasts were augmented in the first place because they were severely underdeveloped, you might have trouble producing enough milk. This would be because of your earlier condition, not because of the breast implant.

Nipple sensitivity issues

One of the issues around breastfeeding and breast augmentation is the sensitivity of the nipple. You may not be able to feel if the baby has latched on correctly - incorrect attachment can cause damage to the nipple. The same damaged nerves that cause your breast to feel numb will prevent the feeling of nursing reaching your brain, and you might not release the oxytocin and prolactin needed to make milk. When you miss out on the let-down reflex, you won't produce as much milk - this is one of the leading reasons that mothers give up breastfeeding altogether.

There is a big ‘but' attached to the above point, however! If your breast implants were put in with an incision under the arm, there should be no associated nipple sensitivity loss.

Silicone and breast milk

Some mothers are worried about the possibility of silicone from breast implants ‘leaking' into the milk ducts and being passed onto the baby. Neutral sources believe that this is highly unlikely, and that if any silicone did pass into the breast milk, it would be unlikely to harm your baby. Silicone is very similar structurally to a substance prescribed to babies with stomach upsets.

Discuss your wish to breastfeed with your surgeon

If you want to breastfeed in the future, or even think you might possibly want to do so, tell your breast augmentation surgeon. They can avoid the cut-type that stretches underneath the nipple, and go in from under your arm instead. They may also recommend a smaller implant size.

It is almost impossible for surgeons to ‘avoid' nerves with the smile incision under the areola - the underarm cut is safest. However, it makes little difference whether you choose to have silicone or saline implants.

In conclusion
There are ways of performing breast augmentations that help greatly reduce the risk of not being able to breastfeed. However, you need to remember that a greatly reduced risk is still a risk! If being able to breastfeed is critically important to you, it may be wise to put off the breast implants until you have finished having kids.