Maternity Nursing Q 155
When assessing a client during her first prenatal visit, the nurse discovers that the client had a reduction mammoplasty. The mother indicates she wants to breast-feed. What information should the nurse give to this mother regarding breastfeeding success?
A. “It’s contraindicated for you to breastfeed following this type of surgery.”
B. “I support your commitment; however, you may have to supplement each feeding with formula.”
C. “You should check with your surgeon to determine whether breast-feeding would be possible.”
D. “You should be able to breastfeed without difficulty.”
Correct Answer: B. “I support your commitment; however, you may have to supplement each feeding with formula.”
Recent breast reduction surgeries are done in a way to protect the milk sacs and ducts, so breastfeeding after surgery is possible. Still, it’s good to check with the surgeon to determine what breast reduction procedure was done. There is the possibility that reduction surgery may have decreased the mother’s ability to meet all of her baby’s nutritional needs, and some supplemental feeding may be required. Preparing the mother for this possibility is extremely important because the client’s psychological adaptation to mothering may be dependent on how successfully she breast-feeds.
Option A: While there is evidence that both breastfeeding and breast reduction surgery are beneficial, it is unknown whether breast reduction surgery impacts breastfeeding and whether any breast reduction technique differentially preserves the ability to breastfeed.
Option C: Women considering breast reduction surgery should be told not only the name of the proposed breast reduction technique but its characteristics, including the extent the column of subareolar parenchyma will be preserved and pedicle width, to allow them to gain a better understanding of its impact on breastfeeding.
Option D: Breast reduction techniques have been in a continuous state of development since the early 1900s, with new techniques developed, refined, and modified by subsequent plastic surgeons. This has led to many diverse breast reduction techniques. Its effect on breastfeeding remains entirely unclear, so telling the client that she could breastfeed without difficulty would give her a false sense of reassurance.