Breastfeeding After Lumpectomy

You should be fine, but may get some clogged ducts around scar tissue.

M.,
I had a lumpectomy several years ago (probably 8 now) and am currently breastfeeding my first (and only) baby. I've had no issues whatsoever with nursing him and we're both loving every moment of it. It's been 10 months now and I'm starting to think about weaning but we love nursing so much I'm not sure. Talk to your doctor but I'm sure breastfeeding won't be a problem for you after your surgery.

Good luck,

B. D.

Hi M.. I had a lumpectomy to remove a tumor in the milk ducts back in 05' but was healed completely in about 9 month to year. I am currently breastfeeding my first baby born in sept 08. I have not had any major issues with the side they removed the lump from. The only thing is I am a bit lopsided since they removed milk ducts I don't produce as much milk on that side as the healthy one produces. The healthy one more than makes up for it though. So to answer your question..yes you can still breastfeed after a lumpectomy without any major problems. I was worried about the same thing. I wish you the best of luck with your surgery and the best outcome! Also the best of luck with any future babies!

~C.

Dear M.,

I started to have unexplained bleeding from my right breast in fall 2002. After not finding anything, I had surgery for the first time in my life at 37, on Oct. 1, 2002, and they removed a large benign tumor. On Sept. 3, 2006, almost 4 years later, I gave birth to our first (and so far only) child, at age 41. I started breastfeeding within an hour of his birth, but have never been able to give much milk from the breast from which the tumor was removed. I had begged the doctor to use the cut that would minimize problems for breastfeeding later in life. I have a small scar around the lower half of the areola from the cut (barely visible). My son tried for several weeks to get milk from my right breast, and I spoke with lactation consultants and many leaders in La Leche League, and read a lot. There is a book on Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction (which is basically the same boat you are in) which gives all the information what herbs are good to improve milk production, and which should be avoided (that can be used by nursing mothers who have not had surgery!).
My son chose to only nurse from the one side, the healthy breast. I could not get him to even attempt nursing from the breast with the surgery. There is one advantage: It made nursing easier with co-sleeping; I always have him in the same spot, and don't have to move him to get to the other breast. And yes, one breast can produce all the milk the child needs. Now at age 2 years and 4 months, he happily continues to beg for milk and we are still co-sleeping.

There is a process called recanalization, where cut milk ducts reconnect. It depends on the kind of surgery, and your body. While my right breast had some milk, it would not have been enough to nurse my child, had the surgery happened on both sides, as is the case in (voluntary) breast reductions.

I wish you all the best. Please discuss the type of surgery with your doctor, emphasizing that you want to minimize the effect on later breastfeeding. There are many different surgery procedures (cuts) available these days.

stop drinking coffee, take milk thistle, and good luck!

I had a lumpectomy while I was 6 months pregnant. Because I was pregnant I had to be awake for the surgery, no general anesthesia. Then, my incision infected afterward. It seems I always have reactions to the stuff they stitch me up with. Anyway, I was able to breastfeed my son when he was born 3 months later with no problems. Then, when I had my other son 9 years later, still no problem. My lump was a milk gland that just started growing like crazy because of all the pregnancy hormones flowing through me. It was the size of a tennis ball when they removed it. Best of luck to you. Oh, when I asked a nurse about breastfeeding after the surgery she assured me that all would be fine because she knew a mom who had a mastectomy on one side and was later able to nurse a set of triplets with just one breast.

I actually had a large fibroid removed 3 weeks before my daughter was born. It was a very stressful situation, but everything turned out just fine. The growth was benign, baby tolerated the surgery well and I was able to breastfeed that baby and the next one. Best of luck!

I had a lumpectomy before I got pregnant with either of my kids and never had a problem with nursing at all. You should be just fine! Best of luck to you. :)
~W.