Can you breastfeed a baby when you have breast implants? This is surely a common question for OBGYNs, pediatricians and plastic surgeons all over the world. But it’s probably a more common query in the silicone filled hills of Hollywood.  Two women currently crossing that boob as fashion accessory to boob as nourishment source are celebrities Kendra Wilkinson (of Playboy fame) and Kourtney Kardashian (one of the reality stars of Keeping Up With the Kardashians).

Both celebs have breast implants and both told US Weekly that they are hoping to breastfeed their babies once they’re born.

“I was so scared that I wasn’t going to be able to nurse that when I saw stuff come out of my nipples the other day, I was like, I can breastfeed?” says Kendra, 24. “And I asked my doctor, who said, ‘That’s fine, but it’s not milk yet!’”

Kourtney – had a bit more info -stated  “They say usually you can [breastfeed with implants]. I want to.”

And it looks like both women should be able to nurse their babies without adverse consequences. According to the hilariously named site www.breastimplants4you.com, they state that most women with breast augmentation have no more trouble breastfeeding than they would have pre enhancement.  They even make the claim, “In fact, some women who have breastfed before and after they had implants put in say that breastfeeding with implants is easier!”  Yeah, a little bit more padding in there might soften any and all feeling ‘eh? But they do continue to say:

“However, it is a good idea to think ahead to the possibility of breastfeeding if you are a woman who has not started a family or may have another child. In previous years, women who received implants were usually older, married, and had already finished having children. Now, younger women, single women, and women who have not finished or even begun childbearing are having breast augmentation surgery.”

Or in other words…the jury is still out. Way out. Keep in mind the above statements were from a plastic surgery cheerleader. The National Resource Center for Women and Families states that “any kind of breast surgery, including breast implant surgery, makes it at least three times more likely that a woman trying to breastfeed will have an inadequate milk supply.”

Some issues that may make it more difficult to breastfeed?  Incision placement , the placement of the implants and extensive scarring. Also, recent studies are showing that the silicone molecules are too large to pass into the milk stream so that hopefully won’t be a unwelcome addition to your child’s diet.  But the newer silicone implants apparently pose less of a risk.

And of course the experts weigh in saying, “the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any risk of problems and encourage women with implants to try breastfeeding.”

Do you know of anyone who’s had issues breastfeeding with implant?

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