Boob talk

[judecorp]

I've been doing a lot of reading on boob issues and milk supply. I did a lot of reading about breastfeeding when I was pregnant, and about ways to increase supply, but I never really read about actual issues - probably a denial thing. And then when I started having a lot of problems, I started looking.

A guaranteed tried-and-true, even-the-LLL-doesn't-deny cause of insufficient milk supply is undeveloped or underdeveloped breast tissue. Signs of this include lack of breast changes during pregnancy (hello! how many times did I complain about this?) and markedly different breast sizes (check).

My boobs are so different in size that my previous primary care physician asked me if I wanted her to write me a referral for an insurance-approved breast augmentation. (I said no. Yikes!) They were about a cup and a half different in size BEFORE pregnancy. Now I'm guessing more like two or more. It's awful.

I wish someone had told me this stuff (you know, like a medical professional who had seen my boobs multiple times) ahead of time so I wouldn't have been as devastated. Aah well, live and learn, I guess.

Comments

[somerandomchic.livejournal.com]

It is totally crappy how little most medical professionals actually know about breastfeeding. I wish there were some way to get out this type of information for folks so they don't feel so like it is their fault when things go wrong or are hard.

((hugs))

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's a dang shame, I think. I know part of it is that when we were all born, people were encouraged NOT to breastfeed and only fairly recently are people actually talking about it and supporting each other again. But still, I think all medical folks (at least the ones that treat women, I suppose) should have at least one course in lactation. But that's just a pipe dream.

[amyura.livejournal.com]

I wish someone had told me this stuff (you know, like a medical professional who had seen my boobs multiple times) ahead of time so I wouldn't have been as devastated.

The thing is, most doctors don't know much about lactation. How many of us visit IBCLCs before we get pregnant? Don't beat yourself up-- you're totally doing the right thing on all fronts :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You would think that midwives would know something about lactation. I mean, no one can be an expert on everything (and that's why we have IBCLCs!) but heck, if I ever see someone with two different sized boobs, I am SO going to warn her!

[mayna.livejournal.com]

I think all midwives should become certified LC's. That's where Kathy (my midwife) has been indispensible for me. and it's someone that you already have a relationship with. It totally makes sense for her because like 99% of her moms breastfeed.

[amyura.livejournal.com]

While I agree with this in principle, it's incredibly difficult to become an IBCLC. In addition to the medical training (which all CNMs have, but not all CPMs have), you need hours of documented experience in breastfeeding counseling (e.g., being a LLL leader counts as 500 hours for each year you're a leader, WIC peer counseling counts, etc.) and some graduate courses. THEN you are eligible to take the exam, which you must pass. If you're a midwife, you're probably more concerned with getting the babies out :)

[mayna.livejournal.com]

Is there a lesser certification? I don't know what my midwife has, I just know she's really good, and she said she was a certified LC. I called her in tears when my daughter was maybe 4 days old because nursing was hurting really badly and I didn't know if she had a good latch or what was going on, just that I was feeling like I didn't want to nurse her with how badly it was hurting, and she dropped what she was doing and drove an hour that same day to see me. She said the latch was good and "prescribed" gel pads for my nipples, and they helped a lot and everything was a lot better within a couple days.

(and then she was the reason my son wasn't a formula baby, he had a lot of problems nursing that she helped with)

[amyura.livejournal.com]

I think there may be other certifications but none has the weight or portability (for lack of a better word) as the IBCLC. There's no national or state certifying board, for example.

I think there are lots of good people who can help with breastfeeding issues without being IBCLCs, for example my LLL leaders are awesome, but I don't know that there's a formal certification process other than the IBCLC.

[rexlezard.livejournal.com]

IBCLCs

Whassat? I don't even know what that is!

You know what, I'm disgusted with the supposed "breast experts" - i.e. the surgeons who perform dozens of breast reductions per year. Very few of them discuss with their (often teenaged or early 20s) patients about the fact that some techniques will obliterate their ability to breastfeed, some techniques will almost certainly affect it, and nothing is foolproof and will be guaranteed not to affect their ability to breastfeed.

Hi, I knew what I was doing when I had surgery - I knew it meant no breastfeeding, ever, because my nipples were grafted back on and are mostly ornamental with some erotic sensation. Also, hopefully all, but if not all, definitely most of the milk glands were removed.

My friend who had the exact same procedure, just less of it, if that makes sense, with a different surgeon, was *NEVER* told it would affect her ability to breastfeed. Admittedly, she had more breast tissue left than I did, and presumably more milk ducts, but still, the nipplies are grafted back on.

Although, how she couldn't guess that, I don't know. I mean, our nipples were chopped off and reattached, the lights are on and nobody's home, you know? The point is, she shouldn't have had to guess. Her surgeon should have spent less time on how hot she was going to be as an A cup with perky breasts and more time on "so these are what breasts are *for* and now you won't be able to do that."

It's like a faucet in a display at Home Depot - just because the tap is there doesn't mean it's plumbed in, and in my case, the cistern is gone, too. Wow. I am really digging the bizarre metaphors today. . . .

Whoops. . .that's my soapbox. . .

[rexlezard.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to get all like "you think *YOU'VE* got it bad. . . " my point was more like this whole thing is fucked up and not even the surgeons who are supposed to be experts, let alone the family doctors have the whole thing properly thunk out.

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

IBCLC = International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

[eeka13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've heard that some do and some don't tell you about the nipple issues.

And Jude, whyyyy would someone refer you for an augmentation to even out different sizes? I mean, I guess some people would make that choice, but I'd think the medically preferred option would be to have one reduced so you wouldn't have, like, foreign materials in there. Wouldn't ya think?

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

Wait, your breast size has shurnk since you had August? OMG! I want! I'm so jealous. Yes, I know that's not really helpful to you, but for someone who's as large in the chest as I am, this would be a blessing.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

No, it's not that the left one shrunk, it's that the right one grew. Sorry - you're screwed. ;)

[ladygreyy.livejournal.com]

What is meant by "lack of breast changes during pregnancy"? Change in size? I mean I'm pretty obviously not suffering from a lack of breast tissue (*snicker*) but my nips have not changed at ALL and that worries me.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Growth, tenderness, darkening of areolas later in PG, feeling of fullness, development of colostrum... lots of things can happen.

[kitchenwitch.livejournal.com]

Eeeee, now I'm freaked out! I hope I'm making enough milk. I seem to be, but I haven't had issues with leaking and my boobs have pretty much stayed the same size/shape/texture/color since prior to pregnancy. And my left one has always been noticeably bigger. I think I'm going to have to pump today, out of curiosity.

I wish to applaud all of your efforts at breastfeeding. You're a fabulous example to others, and I'm sure Gus appreciates it, too.

[mayna.livejournal.com]

I don't leak unless I'm super engorged and I make plenty of milk. So that's not a real indicator, I don't think. The size/shape/etc, I don't know. The real indicator probably is the baby peeing and pooping and gaining weight.

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

You know ... I was just talking about my pregnancy boobs with someone at work a few days ago. My boobs never got much bigger then their usual size while preggo ... and my left boob is a good 1/2 to 1 full cup larger then my right boob. It makes complete sense that this contributed to my low supply. I so want to b/f our next baby if we have one and I'm just not sure it's going to be physically possible. I guess I'll pump as long as I can like I did with Emma so they will have *some* breastmilk. Sigh ...
Why did our boobies fail us Jude??

[meglett.livejournal.com]

yes, yes, yes, WHY did no medical professional ever ask hope some questions about her boob shape and spacing?? WHY didn't our more granola-y than not OB ever say anything? why didn't she ask about whether or not hope's boobs were changing/increasing in size during pregnancy? WHY didn't we read this before Quinn was born:
http://moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie/2006/02/qa_trouble_brea.html

aaaaarrggghhhhhhhhh
[not for you--for you: <3 ]

On the lighter side

[goddamnelf.livejournal.com]

Its an outrage that breastfeeding has been maligned in our culture in the past, and not talking about. I myself, try to breastfeed as often as humanly possible. In fact, I am breastfeeding right now! I always say, if there is a tet full of milk out there, I have the bowl of cereal!!
On another note, did you just imply that your boobs were enlarged before pregnancy...............(mental.....image.......stabilizing...... :)

( . ) ( . ) :)

[(Anonymous)]

okay i'm not pregnant and have not been in 3 years now my boobs r starting to leak again what does that mean i just had a period????