Q - I want to breast-feed. Will I
be successful?
Breast size does not
correlate with breast-feeding ability. Some women with very
small breasts cannot breast-feed, but this is a rare
condition.
Q - Can I breast-feed if I have to
return to work?
Yes. Many companies are
making it easier for women to breast-feed and pump milk at
work. If exclusive breast-feeding is impossible, partial
breast-feeding in the morning and at night is an
option.
Q - If the baby is premature, can I
breast-feed?
Yes. Breast milk is
particularly good for premature babies even if it has to be
administered through a tube.
Q - I have had breast surgery. Can
I breast-feed?
Some women who have had
three to four incisions for fibrocystic breast disease may
have some damage to collection ducts, but this rarely
interferes with breast-feeding. Breast reduction surgery may
be a problem, because the surgical techniques done in the
past destroyed some of the duct system. Most breast implants
are placed under the breast tissue, where they don't
interfere with breast-feeding.
Q - Will I experience weight
gain?
On balance, women will
not gain weight, but many factors are involved in weight
gain.
Q - Does breast-feeding prevent
cancer?
Some studies have found
an association between breast-feeding and a reduced risk of
some cancers. Breast-feeding appears to have a protective
effect against breast cancer. Data also suggest a 20%
reduced risk of ovarian cancer.
Q - What happens if I don't have
enough milk?
It is important to let
the baby breast-feed longer, emptying each breast, and to
use one breast predominantly for each feeding. Alternating
breasts from one feeding to another will help.
Q - What happens if I get
mastitis?
If not treated early
and properly, this can lead to an abscess. Mastitis often
occurs in the second or third week of nursing; the breast
becomes red, hot, and tender, with unilateral swelling, a
temperature as high as 101° F, and flu-like symptoms.
Treatment should include nursing on the unaffected side
first. Treatment with antibiotics, heat, fluids, and a pain
reliever such as Tylenol or Advil is indicated.
Q - If I become pregnant, can I
still breast-feed?
Yes.
Source: Dr. John T.
Queenan of Georgetown University
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