D89. Utilizing the Mother Infant Lactation Questionnaire to Assess Breastfeeding Success after Benign Breast Surgery

Abstract

PURPOSE: 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 women. 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). RESULTS: The questionnaire was piloted in a sample of 258 mothers, with a mean age of 34 years. Forty-one mothers underwent prior benign breast surgery: reduction (17), augmentation (12), biopsy (10), and excision (4). Although 96% of respondents attempted to breastfeed, only 55% and 60% of mothers with and without a prior history of breast surgery, respectively, were able to nourish their child through breastmilk alone (p = 0.09). Roughly one-third of mothers reported moderate to extreme difficulty while breastfeeding regardless of breast surgery status (p = 0.78). The most common physical barriers were consistent across breast surgery status, including breast and nipple tenderness (64%), nipple chaffing, cracking, or bleeding (45%), and mastitis (30%; p > 0.05, all). CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of this pilot study suggest that although many mothers face breastfeeding challenges, undergoing prior benign breast surgery does not significantly impact patients’ future breastfeeding and lactation performance. Concern for future breastfeeding and lactation impairment should not prevent surgeons from providing surgery for younger patients.