Is Your Breast Augmentation Standing in the Way of Breast Feeding – It Shouldn’t

If you have previously undergone some type of breast augmentation, you may be concerned about how it will affect breastfeeding as well as how breast-feeding will affect the look of your breast.  A study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in late 2011 tackle this very issue.  The results were surprising to say the least.

Your Mind Plays Powerful Tricks on You

It noted that 86 percent of women with breast implants who failed at breast-feeding believed that it would negatively impact the look of their breasts.  The surprising part of this study is that the women’s perception alone was responsible for a poor breast-feeding experience.  It also noted that breast-feeding does not affect the amount of sag your breasts experience over time.  Instead, it is affected by the number of pregnancies your body undergoes.

The study followed 160 breast augmentation patients.  The only difference between women was the perceived effects breast-feeding would have on their breasts.  Of the women who were successful at breast-feeding, only 13 percent believed it would damage the aesthetic quality of their breasts.  On the other hand, of the women who were unsuccessful at breast-feeding, 86 percent believed it would hurt the appearance of their breasts.

It isn’t surprising that Houston breast implant patients are concerned about the effects of breast-feeding on their breasts because they have invested time and money into getting the look they want.  To date, all of the available evidence agrees that the reason breasts sag more with each pregnancy, breast-feeding has no impact on this.  Rather, it is the body’s natural way of coping with multiple pregnancies.

Breast Feeding Benefits You and Your Child

Breast-feeding is not only natural, but it is incredibly important for both you and your child.  Many people believe that breast-feeding solely provides nutritional benefits, although this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Breast-feeding actually protect your child from a laundry list of diseases and illnesses.  Numerous studies have linked breast-feeding with lowering your baby’s risk of stomach viruses, respiratory illnesses, meningitis, and even here infections.  One of the most noteworthy studies by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reported that children who breast-fed have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the tender age of 28 days and one year.

Additional benefits of breast-feeding for your baby include preventing the development of allergies, improving your child’s intelligence, lowering the risk of SIDS, and even protecting it from obesity.

Breast-feeding has a number of benefits for you as well.  After reviewing more than 9000 studies, the National Institutes of Health concluded that women who do not breast-feed or stop breast-feeding early on were at a significantly higher risk of postpartum depression.  This is because breast-feeding naturally triggers the release of oxytocin.  This hormone naturally promotes nurturing and relaxation.  It even helps your uterus contract after birth.  Another study noted that women who had higher levels of this hormone in their system have significantly lower blood pressure after dealing with a stressful personal problem.

Another benefit, documented in numerous studies, is that women who breast-feed lower their risk for breast and ovarian cancer.  While the reason for this is still unclear, it is likely due to the fact that lactating suppresses the amount of estrogen in your body creates.

Conclusion

As you can see, breast-feeding has a number of benefits for you and your child.  The only thing standing in your way is you.  Simply believing that breast-feeding will negatively affect the aesthetic appearance of your breasts can significantly decrease your chances of successfully breast-feeding.  It has been well documented that breast-feeding will not damage breasts which have undergone any type of breast augmentation surgery, so don’t let your mind play tricks on you or your baby.