Utilizing the mother infant lactation questionnaire to assess lactation and breastfeeding success after benign breast surgery
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Citation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding the impact of breast surgery on future breastfeeding and lactation performance, and as such, surgeons may be reluctant to operate on young patients. This novel pilot study aims to explore the impact of benign breast surgery on breastfeeding performance, breastfeeding challenges, and mothers’ perspectives of their own breastfeeding experience.
METHODS: A cohort of adult mothers who were 6 months to 5 years postpartum, with and without a prior history of breast surgery, completed the Mother Infant Lactation Questionnaire (MILQ). Survey results were analyzed to assess breastfeeding outcomes, lactation outcomes, and maternal experience.
RESULTS: The questionnaire was piloted in a sample of 256 mothers, with a median (IQR) age of 35.3 (5.8) years. Twenty-five mothers underwent prior benign breast surgery: reduction mammoplasty (14), augmentation mammoplasty (11). Maternal satisfaction scores across all groups indicated moderate to extreme self-satisfaction with breastfeeding experiences, and median breastfeeding difficulty scores for mother and child did not significantly vary between groups (p > 0.05, all). The most frequently reported physical barrier across all study groups was nipple tenderness and pain, impacting over half of mothers in every group.
CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of this pilot study suggest that although the majority of mothers face breastfeeding challenges, undergoing prior benign breast surgery does not significantly and negatively impact patients’ future breastfeeding and lactation performance. Concern for future breastfeeding and lactation impairment should not prevent surgeons from providing surgery for younger patients.