Breastfeeding after breast surgery

Breast surgery is an operation to remove or reconstruct one or both breasts. It may be done for medical reasons like breast cancer, pain or emotional problems or for cosmetic reasons.

Types of breast surgery include:

• mastectomy (Opens in new tab) (surgical removal of the breast)
• lumpectomy (removal of a lump in your breast)
• breast reduction (Opens in new tab)
• breast augmentation (Opens in new tab) (breast implants)
• breast reconstruction with breast implants (Opens in new tab) or tissue flap (Opens in new tab)
• breast lift (Opens in new tab) (mastopexy)

Other breast procedures include:

• inverted nipple procedure
• biopsy (a small sample of tissue is removed for testing)
• nipple piercing

Having an operation or procedure on your breasts can change how much milk you can make and how you can get it to your baby. Many parents are able do some breastfeeding after breast surgery.

Having breast surgery can affect breastfeeding and your milk supply. How much these are affected depends on:

• the type of surgery
• any changes to the breast structure or nipple
• the effect on the nerve supply to the nipple and areola
• the disruption to milk glands or ducts

Many people can breastfeed following surgery or continue breastfeeding after recovery. Sometimes nerves and ducts in your breast regrow after surgery, and more glandular tissue develops during pregnancy.

Following surgery, you may be able to:

• fully breastfeed (without the need for top-up feeds)
• partially breastfeed (some top-up feeds needed)
• breastfeed with the help of medicines to boost your milk supply

While any amount of breastfeeding is good for you and your baby, there are other ways to feed your newborn baby and to bond with your baby.

It’s a good idea to talk with your surgeon about your plans for pregnancy and breastfeeding before breast surgery. This way, they can do the surgery in a way that can help you breastfeed later. 

Getting support is important. Speak with a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant after your surgery or before the birth of your child if you have had breast surgery. They can help you begin breastfeeding or help you continue breastfeeding after breast surgery.

While you are pregnant, talk with your midwife or lactation consultant about:

• your plans for breastfeeding
• when you had your surgery
• any complications during or after surgery
• what changes you have had in your breasts and nipples since your surgery
• if you have done any breastfeeding since surgery

After your baby is born, a breastfeeding counsellor or a lactation consultant may suggest:

• skin to skin contact as soon as possible after the birth — also known as kangaroo care
• frequent feeds — every 2 to 3 hours — to help increase milk supply
• expressing your milk with a pump after or between feeds
• feeding from one breast only — they can also check how well your baby attaches
• an at-breast supplementer
• mixed feeding — this may mean a mix of breastfeeding and formula

A counsellor can also help you talk through the emotions that come with the ups and downs of being a new parent. Read more about mental wellbeing during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding with breast implants

If you have had implants as part of breast augmentation or reconstructive surgery, breastfeeding is often possible. However, you may experience reduced nipple sensation — this can affect your milk let down reflex. You may also experience reduced milk supply. 

Working with a lactation consultant can help you to breastfeed your baby.

Breastfeeding after a mastectomy or lumpectomy

Your ability to breastfeed will depend on if you have had a double mastectomy, single mastectomy or partial mastectomy. 

Speak with your doctor if you need a mastectomy and hope to breastfeed.

You should be able to breastfeed on the unaffected breast if you have had a mastectomy or partial mastectomy. You may also be able to partially breastfeed on the affected side following a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy. 

A lumpectomy is also known as breast conserving surgery — it involves the removal of the cancer from your breast, whilst conserving the rest of the breast tissue.

Unfortunately, if you have had a double mastectomy you will be unable to breastfeed. Some other options are bottle feeding your baby and using baby formula. 

Breastfeeding after reconstruction surgery

You will probably not be able to breastfeed from your reconstructed breast. However, if you have had one breast reconstructed you may be able to fully breastfeed with the other breast only.
A breast care nurse or lactation consultant can help answer your questions about breastfeeding after a reconstruction.
To find a lactation consultant or maternal, child and family health service near you, use the Service Finder tool.

Sometimes you can have breast surgery while breastfeeding, but it is important that your doctor knows that you are breastfeeding your baby. They can make plans to help you successfully continue breastfeeding such as by deciding what medicines to prescribe before, during or after your surgery so breastfeeding is safe. They may also be able to change the way they do the surgery.

Most anaesthetics and pain-relief medicines are safe to take, since they pass into your breastmilk at very low levels. You do not usually need to throw away any of your pumped breastmilk. Sometimes this is called "pump and dump". If you need strong pain medicine or your baby is premature or sick, you should check with your doctor about your specific situation.

Read more on medicines and breastfeeding.

You may need to fast before your surgery or you could be separated from your baby for a time. It is important you discuss this with your doctor and prepare for situations like these. You may need to express and store breast milk or feed your baby formula.

Make sure you discuss with your doctor:

• how to keep hydrated and protect your milk supply
• the length of your surgery and if you need to feed or express before your procedure

You should ask your doctor before your surgery about how the surgery could affect your ability to breastfeed your baby.

Some signs that breastfeeding is working well in the early days are:

• discomfort that feels like period-like pelvic discomfort while breastfeeding
• feeling thirsty during a feed
• a tingling feeling in your breasts when your baby starts to feed
• if you can see a change in the way your baby sucks and swallows during a feed

Some more signs that your baby is getting enough milk are:

• your baby has plenty of pale yellow, heavy and wet nappies
• your newborn baby has at least one bowel movement every day
• your baby is gaining weight (after some expected weight loss soon after birth)
• your baby has bright eyes, a moist mouth and good colour

If you are worried your baby is not getting enough milk, you should speak to your doctor, lactation consultant, or a child and family health nurse.

Any amount of breastfeeding has benefits.

Some benefits of breast milk for your baby are:

• breast milk contains all the nutrients your baby needs and is easy to digest
• your milk adapts to your baby's needs as they grow 
• it contains antibodies to help protect your baby from infection

Some benefits of breastfeeding for you are:

• it helps to shrink your uterus after birth 
• it lowers your risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis
• It helps you to bond with your baby

More information on breastfeeding after surgery is available:

• Speak with your doctor, midwife, lactation consultant or child health nurse.
• Read the factsheet (Opens in new tab) from The Royal Women’s Hospital (Opens in new tab).
• Call the Australian Breastfeeding Association (Opens in new tab) free helpline on 1800 686 268, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Visit the Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (Opens in new tab) website to find support in your area.

Languages other than English

Australian Breastfeeding Association has breastfeeding booklets in other languages (Opens in new tab).

If you need an interpreter, call Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) (Opens in new tab) on 131 450.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Australian Breastfeeding Association has resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander families (Opens in new tab).