# Breast reductions and having children **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777 "2012-01-26T21:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/1 "2012-01-26T21:55:14Z")
A friend of mine has really big boobs in general, much less for her age. In her early 20s she has natural Es and is by no means a big girl. It will probably come to eventually that she will need to have a reduction surgery, but she also wants to have kids and will breastfeed. Is it healthy/ok/medically feasable to have the surgery BEFORE having the kids and everything still being ok? Or is it better to wait until after children to have the surgery done? Or doesn’t it matter either way?? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/2 "2012-01-27T00:30:03Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > A friend of mine has really big boobs in general, much less for her age. In her early 20s she has natural Es and is by no means a big girl. It will probably come to eventually that she will need to have a reduction surgery, but she also wants to have kids and will breastfeed. Is it healthy/ok/medically feasable to have the surgery BEFORE having the kids and everything still being ok? Or is it better to wait until after children to have the surgery done? Or doesn’t it matter either way?? Reduction can make it difficult / impossible to breastfeed. That’s something she’ll want to ask around about, and also discuss with the surgeon who would be doing her surgery. I just googled “breastfeeding after breast reduction” and got a lot of hits - including the first one which is [bfar.org](http://bfar.org)! (I haven’t clicked on the site, it’s conceivable it’s NSFW if it’s a really uptight workplace). ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/3 "2012-01-27T01:51:08Z")
Obviously, that is something to be discussed with the surgeon. Keep in mind, though, that pregnancy involves increasing breast size, and breastfeeding increases breast size even more. The early breast reductions were a relatively simple, “cut off the excess” and then tack the nipple in the right spot. The current procedure involves keeping the nipple, the milk glands, and the nerves intact, and reducing excess tissue. In order for the finished product to be esthetically pleasing, this is quite detailed and requires skill. Because of back pain and skin problems, breast reduction surgery is often covered by insurance. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/4 "2012-01-27T23:58:25Z")
Thanks for the responses everyone…these answers are pretty much what I expected too. Cool that if you can get a doctor to sign off for it it can maybe get covered by insurance!! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/5 "2012-01-28T03:13:35Z")
Interesting username/topic combination. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-reductions-and-having-children/610777/6 "2012-01-29T01:20:15Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Interesting username/topic combination. Ahahahah. That’s funny…I didn’t even think of that.