Today wraps up World Breastfeeding Week. I’ve been promising myself I’d write this blog post for over seven months now after our sweet son, Jordi, was born December 10 (the day after my own birthday)! I’ve been so grateful to be all wrapped up in motherhood. There are so few events in life where everything really does change in an instant, and becoming a parent is the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced.

I want to share my experience with breastfeeding here because there aren’t a lot of stories out there detailing exactly what it might be like to breastfeed primarily from one breast after a lumpectomy/radiation or unilateral mastectomy. I’ve got a lot to say so if this info doesn’t apply to you, feel free to check out now! I want to tell my own personal experience and share some of the resources I used to be as successful as possible.

I’m sharing my story with the caveat that I chose to persist through a LOT of challenges, and it’s absolutely acceptable if these options are too stressful, time-consuming, frustrating (you name the emotion of choice…) for you. Breastfeeding challenges can be extremely taxing from a mental health perspective and the immediate postpartum period is already hard enough. Your return-to-work options may not allow you an appropriate amount of time for your milk supply to stabilize. Whatever your unique situation is and whatever decision you make in regards to breastfeeding, just know that you are NOT a failure and you are NOT failing your baby if you choose to exclusively formula feed. Thank goodness we live in a world with options that allow our babies to thrive!

With that said, here are a few things we’ve tried to facilitate our breastfeeding journey:

Triple Feeding.

We were lucky enough to see a lactation consultant while we were still in the hospital who set us up with a breast pump and referred us to an outpatient lactation consultant right away. Because my supply was very slow to come in, Jordi actually had some low blood sugars in the hospital and we needed to supplement with formula right off the bat. Lactation recommended triple feeding as a way to mimic cluster feeding and thus increase milk supply. This entails:
1) Breastfeeding at a regular interval
2) Supplementing with pumped breast milk or formula (or we used donor milk from a very dear friend who was so generous to stock our freezer) at each feeding
3) Pumping for an additional 15-30 minutes
We were doing this EVERY 2 HOURS, y’all. This is crazy. But it worked and my supply came in and we were able to almost meet baby’s needs. At a certain point my supply stabilized and we were able to transition away from triple feeding after about 7-8 weeks. It took a minute and continued frequent feedings and nighttime waking to get to a place where I was exclusively breastfeeding from my unaffected breast at a normal interval.

*Side note: This would also be a good time to mention that my affected breast (lumpectomy + radiation) produced maybe 5 mL maximum, so it really wasn’t a reliable source of nutrition. I did and still choose to pump and stimulate that side to prevent clogs in the performing ducts.

Nutrition & Supplementation.

I was recommended to take a sunflower lecithin supplement to promote milk flow and a supplement containing goat’s rue to support milk production. I used supplements from Legendairy Milk and they’ve been great! You can also eat oats or make lactation bites like these with brewer’s yeast that can help with supply. I also splurged on some of these Kaimade lactation cookies which are delicious, easy to make, and a local Kauai-based company.

Getting adequate hydration is also a must and besides plain, old H2O, it can be helpful to add electrolytes or drink bone broth.

*Disclaimer: This is not medical advice! Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new supplements.

Breast Massage.

Our lactation consultant’s office also offers professional breast massage to support milk flow. I have found this extremely helpful as Jordi initially had a lot of difficulty latching well due to a tongue and lip tie (more on this in a minute). The breast massage is meant to stretch the milk ducts, promote milk flow, and allow baby to access milk deeper in the breast. I actually feel like this was the most helpful of all of the many hoops I’ve jumped through to support our breastfeeding journey. I have no clue how accessible this is in other cities, but I know that, in some places, physical therapists offer these services. I imagine a Google search may help you find someone in your area who can help! In general, breast massage can be helpful for anyone dealing with clogs or mastitis as well.

Oral Tie Release.

As a PT, conservative management of any condition is my jam. I am not one to jump into a surgery or procedure unnecessarily. It was known to us from birth that Jordi had a tongue tie and upper lip tie, but we hoped we could manage without a release. At some point, we realized that even after Jordi ate (a good amount based on his weighted feedings) I could still pump up to one ounce of milk – he wasn’t getting it all! So we decided to do a tongue and lip tie release which is a very quick procedure (maybe less than 15 minutes) done using laser with a pediatric dentist. We did tongue and lip stretches for weeks after the procedure (which is the hardest part), but this made breastfeeding even more successful! Jordi wasn’t taking 20-30 minutes to eat or falling asleep while eating anymore and needed to eat less frequently. I’m so thankful we ended up treating this because it really helped him!

With all that said, this has not been an easy time. I’ve cried a lot, sacrificed time with friends and family to pump, and spent a lot of time and energy on making it all work. In late June, I got sick and my milk production dipped significantly and it still hasn’t fully returned. While this is super disappointing, I’m staying grateful that I’ve been able to breastfeed at all. Some of the best advice I’ve received is to strive for longevity, not exclusivity, and it helps me stay grounded. I don’t take a single ounce of breast milk I’ve been able to produce for granted as I know that not everyone gets to experience with their babes, especially after breast cancer.

With having worked so hard to get where we are, I hope I’ll be able to continue combo feeding through Jordi’s first birthday (HOW is it only 4 months away??). The benefits of continued breastfeeding last as long as baby continues to breastfeed and the nutrition of mother’s milk is constantly changing to meet baby’s needs. How incredible is it to literally sustain a tiny life in this way!

I’m sure there’s more to our story, but for now I’ll wrap up and just say thank you… to my husband for his unwavering patience and support, to my family and friends who continue to stand by me in motherhood just as much as they did in cancer-land and survivorship, and to the littlest love of my life, Jordi, for giving me the best gift of being his mama.

Sending all the Aloha,
❤ B