Hi everyone, I'm considering getting a breast reduction in the next while. I'm 23 and have no children and while I could wait, its not really reasonable for me to. I have read that lactation actually helps to reform severed ducts and that for a second child the mil supply can be higher. I've been thinking that if I were to actually begin the lactation process before pregnancy/a baby, my body might be able to reform some of the ducts so that when I have a child there is a larger milk supply.
Has anyone one this or have any thoughts or comments on it? I don't know if it is benefficial/risky. Or even if it will make my breasts larger again.
Thanks for anything you may have to add.
Adrienne

It sounds like you want to do adoptive nursing without the adopted baby? Induce lactation with meds/herbs and pumping for a while. I've never heard of someone trying this for BFAR purposes, but it would probably work. You could donate the milk you pumped through a program like MilkShare.

If you google adoptive breast feeding I'm sure you can get lots of info on how to do this. I imagine it would affect your breast size to some extent, but not sure by how much.

That's exactly what I was talking about. I was hoping to do this for a few months and then let myself cease lactation before having a child. I feel this would help make the second time lactating for a baby more "fruitful"

Welcome

My only thought is that IIRC, surgeons require you to wait months (6?) after weaning before performing BR surgery, so you could be pushing back a surgery date by 12 or more months.

You may want to look at Diane West's books to see if this topic is addressed at all, or someone here might have the reference.

I was thinking I'd get the surgery first and use the induced lactation to help promote duct reforming after I've fully healed. I was reading this could be done through herbs and regular pumping. The body will start to lactate without a child.
I'm not planning on having children for a few years, so I'd have a good 6+ months to fully heal, induce lactation for a few months, allow myself to stop lactating, and then down the road have a child. Hopefully some more ducts will have reformed as prompted by the previous lactation and I'd be able to produce more milk for the child when it came.
While I know that not being able to produce enough to fully support a child by breast alone is reasonable and common, I'd like to do my best to make as much as possible.

I've never heard of this but sounds really intreresting. i think it's worth a shot.

Thank you!

I've never thought about this, but it sounds like it might be worth a try if if you're willing to do it. One thing I would keep in mind though is that the longer you breastfeed the more reinervation takes place, so just pumping for a short time may not offer as much benefit as you'd like. Also, many mamas here on their 2nd (and some 3rd, 4th or later) child still have to supplement because they do not have a full supply. I'm not trying to be negative, but just want to point out a few things before you pursue this option. I think doing the induced lactation would help, it's just a matter of how much.

as one of the previous posters mentioned, even moms who are on there 2nd or 3rd BFAR babies don't always have a full milk supply. Some re-innervation occurs, but that doesn't mean you won't still have to supplement. I don't know, if I were you I would seriously weigh your options. If you plan to have children in the near future, then you may want to hold off on the surgery. If you absolutely need to have the surgery, then just prepare yourself for the fact that you may not be able to exclusively breastfeed. If you are okay with that, then go ahead with it. I'm on my 2nd BFAR baby, however, I only breastfed for a few days with my first BFAR baby. I pumped for 4 weeks, though. I still have to supplement about 6 to 8 oz of formula a day.

Anyway, I'd sit down and make a pros and cons list and figure out what's really important to you, because pumping for a few months won't completely fix the damage that may be done during surgery. Also, some women don't respond well to the pump as opposed to having a baby suckle, so that's another thing to consider. Honestly, if I knew then what I know now, I would have held off on surgery until I was done having children. But, I'm at a place where I'm starting to become at peace with my situation. I just feel fortunate to be able to provide any amount of breastmilk to my LO.