Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery [Paperback]

Diana West (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0912500867 | ISBN-13: 978-0912500867 | Publication Date: July 1, 2001 | Edition: 1

This book was written to enable mother who have had breast reduction surgery to breastfeed their babies. although written directly to the mother who wishes to breastfeed after reduction, this book is also a valuable resource for health care professionals--surgeons, physicians, midwives, pediatrics and maternity nurses and lactation consultants. This first of its kind publication addresses questions and myths whether its possible to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Diana West is an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in private practice, author of "Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery," ILCA's popular "Clinician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool," and co-author with Lisa Marasco of "Making More Milk: A Nursing Mother's Guide to Milk Supply." She is a retired La Leche League Leader, a website developer, and administrator of the popular BFAR.org, LowMilkSupply.org, and LactSpeak.org websites. To top it all off, she and her family raise german shepherd guide dog puppies for the Seeing Eye. Most importantly, though, Diana mothers her three charming, breastfed sons in partnership with her husband Brad in their home in New Jersey, which she has discovered is much nicer than the way it looks on the Sopranos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: La Leche League International; 1 edition (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912500867
• ISBN-13: 978-0912500867
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diana West is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in private practice, co-author with Teresa Pitman and Diane Wiessinger of the 8th edition of La Leche League International's "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." She is also co-author with Lisa Marasco of "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk" and Dr. Elliot Hirsch of "Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures." She is the author of the "Clinician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool" and "Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery." She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, is a La Leche League Leader, a website developer, and administrator of the popular BFAR.org, LowMilkSupply.org, and LactSpeak.com websites. Diana has been a member of the Board of Directors for the International Lactation Consultant Association. She lives with her three sons and one husband in the picturesque mountains of western New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE resource, January 13, 2005

By 

KristiMetz "Seeking the Answers" (Wichita, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery (Paperback)

This book is an incredible resource, and not just for those breastfeeding after reduction surgery. It contains wonderful breastfeeding info from how the breast works to herbs/drugs available to increase supply.

Oh yeah, and it also contains wonderful and complete information, as well as personal stories, regarding breastfeeding after reduction surgery!

I got this book while pregnant, and it really helped me set realistic expectations for what to expect. My supply turned out to be really low and it has invaluable resources for ways to increase supply. I still only produce around 8 ounces a day, but I've stuck with it and am still nursing my 13 month old.

Try to keep in mind that you won't know how you feel about this until you actually have your baby. Get this book and get educated. Then when the going gets rough, make a decision that you know in your heart you won't end up regretting.

(...)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, invaluable, especially for bf "helpers", October 1, 2001

By 

Tammy L. Schilling "tammyl84" (MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery (Paperback)

This book is simply wonderful. Tons of scientific information presented in a thoroughly readable fashion. Personal stories of BFAR women are wonderful. The book offers tons of hope to BFAR mothers. More importantly, it also offers empowerment and respect. There is no false hope offered for a "perfect" breastfeeding experience, nor is there any second guessing of the mother's decision to have the reduction surgery. Only straight forward information about what reduction surgery does to the mammary system, how milk production can be maximized, tools and techniques to assist in BFAR, and the respect for the mother to go forward and make the best decision about how to handle her personal BFAR experience.

The chapter about "Defining Your Own Success" I found especially wonderful. As a person who helps other mothers by giving them breastfeeding information, it was a wonderful piece to give me the tools to help mothers who have had a less than "perfect" breastfeeding experience (even if not related to BFAR) make peace with her experience. It is no surprise that Diana West is a La Leche League leader. This is a very typical and wonderful example of the warmth, respect, and non-judgementalism that La Leche League leaders are known for exhibiting.

Every mother who has had a breast reduction or is contemplating a breast reduction should read this book. All lactation consultants, pediatricians, obstetricians, plastic surgeons, La Leche League Leaders, midwives and doulas should read this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT !!, March 7, 2003

By 

RMQ71 "RMQ71" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery (Paperback)

This book was extrememly helpful. Not only did it provide medical information, but real life stories of BFAR mothers. It explained in detail how to increase your milk supply, how to suppliment, and what you can expect emotionally. It gives you advice on what to do before baby is born, how to handle things after baby comes. Well thought out, Well referenced, Well written. A necessary book to have if you want to nurse your child after having breast surgery.