Avoiding Troubles Ahead; Issues with Lactation

6/2/2021

Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting, difficult, rewarding, and beautiful things you can experience. While many parts of your journey as a new mother will have their challenges, lactation can be one of the most difficult. Let us help you with The Breast Place's lactation services!

Hello, Warriors! All of us at The Breast Place hope each of you is doing happy and well out there. We hope you also know that we are here to help and support you no matter what is happening in your life! We understand that life is challenging and we will always be here to listen, treat, and make your life more hopeful. We are so glad you've joined us today! To all of our returning warriors, thank you for your support and we hope you've found comfort, hope, and guidance in our blogs! To all of our new readers, welcome! Let us introduce ourselves a little more before we dive into today's topic about lactation! We are The Breast Place and we work hard to provide hope through wellness and beauty for women facing life's continued challenges. Our team specializes in both malignant and benign breast disease. As a team, we work together with you, educating, treating, and caring for you. We will also grow with you as you change, age, and survive offering self-confidence with scar revision and body contouring, and physical wellness. We offer skincare treatments like resurfacing and rejuvenation using the latest laser technology to address fine lines, wrinkles, and textural issues and antiaging products to keep your skin healthy and youthful. Injectables and IV therapies are available as well!

A part of life's changes and processes that many of our warriors go through is becoming a mother, and one of the most common issues that so many go through is troubles with lactation. Here at The Breast Place, our providers are not only lactation specialists, they have first-hand knowledge of the difficulties of breastfeeding. If you are experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding including clogged ducts, mastitis, pain, nipple bleeding or cracking, or fungal infections, please feel free to contact us for a consultation, a latch evaluation, education, and support. Today, we are going to be talking a little bit more about lactation and the difficulties many face while breastfeeding, sharing a little insight on what can cause these issues, and how you can help improve them while waiting to come see us!

The decision to breastfeed your child is a very personal one, and we are here to support and respect your choice. However, if you are wanting to breastfeed, that is today's topic of conversation and this blog is for you! Breastfeeding your child is incredibly healthy, providing them with all the essential vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients that your baby needs. However, it can take a minute for both mom and baby to get the hang of it. So please mamas, don't worry or fret if this journey hasn't been the easiest. It is very common and you are not alone in these struggles.

Today, we are going to give you some insight on how to make this process a little easier and to avoid as many of these situations as possible. Thankfully with our guidance and what we are going to be talking about today, we can help both you and your baby get through any difficulties you face, together. While you may not experience every difficulty that we will be mentioning today, don't think that it will be a perfect ride, either.

Poor Latch - This can be one of the first hurdles that you and your baby will need to overcome. Latching is when your baby properly and comfortably latches onto your nipple to eat. To guarantee that the milk ducts in your areola are compressed to being the milk flow, your baby needs a good latch to encompass both the nipple and the areola. Not achieving a proper latch can lead to difficulties feeding and nipple pain. Other signs of poor latch can include chewing, a fussy baby, or your baby turning red out of frustration. Practice, getting your baby into the correct position, and trial and error can help improve latching dramatically!

Breast Engorgement - This is a very common problem with first-time mothers. Your breasts will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy, your milk will come in, and your breasts will grow hard a few days after giving birth. This is a result of your milk production being in full swing, leaving your breast extremely tender and getting used to the amount of milk your producing. Thankfully, this will only last a few days at most and will go away as you continue breastfeeding. Nursing frequently will help with the pain, massaging the breast while feeding will also help, along with wearing a well-fitted bra and switching up positions while feeding can all help with pain related to breast engorgement.

Cracked Nipples - This can be one of the many results of dry skin, thrush, not pumping correctly, or a very shallow latch from your baby. This might be a little frightening and uncomfortable, but this is a very common result of breastfeeding and is nothing to worry about! One of the best steps in avoiding this is to make sure your baby is in the right position to breastfeed to avoid a shallow latch. Check with your doctor before you move onto other treatment solutions, but make sure you clean your nipples at least twice a day, let some breast milk sit on the cracked nipples after feeding, use over the counter pain meds, cool gel pads, and nursing ointments can all help with cracked nipples.

Clogged Ducts - This can happen if you've gone longer than normal between feedings or if you're breasts are overly full, milk can get backed up into your ducts and clog them up. One sure way of knowing you have a clogged duct is if you have a hard lump on your breast and if it is sore to the touch and a little red. It can also happen if you're not pumping correctly, compressing your breasts while sleeping, or hitting the breast in the same spot over and over again. Make sure you're getting enough rest, apply warm compresses to the breasts, massage the breasts, and have the baby feed on the affected breast first when feeding begins. Each of these steps will help with your clogged ducts.

Leaking Breasts - These leaks can happen anywhere and anytime while your body is getting used to the whole feeding cycle and process, and as your body is amping up to supply as much milk as possible. This will usually happen and will last for the first two weeks of your baby's life while the supply of your milk matches up to demand. Nursing pads can help you through these first few weeks, and make sure to use cotton or disposable pads. We also recommend wearing darker clothing with no prints to help disguise any leaks and don't over pump. While you think this might help this situation, over-pumping will actually stimulate the breast to make even more milk. Once your body and baby are in sync, the leaking will begin to slow down and finally stop.

Mastitis - One of the more serious lactation and breastfeeding issues, mastitis is an infection of your breast tissue that can cause redness, fever, breast pain, and muscle pain. It is usually a result of a clogged duct and the breast milk gets infected from the bacteria from your baby's mouth. Antibiotics will most likely be prescribed by your doctor to make you feel better, along with using over-the-counter pain meds and applying warm compresses. You can continue breastfeeding and will most likely be encouraged to do so!

Thrush - This is a yeast infection that happens in your baby's mouth and can spread into your breasts. Signs of thrush include red, shiny, and flaky nipples, and also itching or deep shooting pain can also be signs of thrush. Both you and your baby will be prescribed an anti-fungal medication to take at the same time so you don't keep passing it back and forth to one another. You will need to keep your nipples clean, sanitize all pumping equipment, wash all of your bras, clothes, and nursing pads in hot water mixed with vinegar to kill any remaining yeast spores to also help the healing process along.

These are just some of the common lactation and breastfeeding hurdles and issues many women deal with during their first or through every pregnancy. As we've stated before, you might experiences some or just one of these issues, but all of them are common and there are plenty of ways to deal with each issue to help comfort you and your baby. Each healing step is there to help make the breastfeeding process special and enjoyable for both you and your baby. We are here to help you with the whole process. You are not alone, and we are here for you and your baby when you need us most! Until next time, stay safe and be well out there. We understand life is challenging. We are here to listen, support, treat, and help make life a little easier.

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What Are The Different Kinds of Breast Imaging?

3/31/2021

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We offer many different kinds of breast imaging services at the Breast Place to help determine the health of your breasts anytime you come into our offices. Unsure of what the whole process is and if you'll need to experience one in the future? That is what we will be talking about today!

Welcome back, readers and warriors! We are so happy you have joined us today! With this beautiful spring weather that is starting to stick around here in the Lowcountry, we hope that you've had a chance to get outside and enjoy it! Keep staying safe and protected, and remember that allergy and flu season is still here. Please be conscious of all of your choices to help continue staying happy and safe. Our last blog was dedicated to mammograms and what to expect from the whole experience. Today, we are going to go a bit deeper and focus on the next step, all of the different kinds of breast imaging that are offered and what is offered at the Breast Place.

There are multiple ways to visualize the tissue within the breast and as technology changes, recommendations for screenings change every year. If you require breast imaging services, contact us for a consultation and recommendations for what kind of imaging we believe you need. Like we discussed in our last blog, mammography uses x-rays to look at calcification within the breast tissue. The newest technology is 3D mammography, also known as tomography. This imaging is recommended yearly for preventative health. Screening mammography is typically paid for by insurance under preventative services if the covered person falls within the contracted age range, but only once per year. Diagnostic mammography is used when there is a known problem within the breast. While we don't do mammography on-site, we work with almost all facilities in the area to order, schedule, and follow up on mammograms for our patients! If you would like to learn more about mammograms, please visit our last blog at:
https://www.thebreastplacesc.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-mammogram

Breast Ultrasound

After mammograms, the second type of breast imaging is done by ultrasound. Breast ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to see changes in breast tissue like the appearance of cysts. If you are unsure what breast imaging is right for you, contact us to schedule a consultation with a licensed provider for a clinical breast exam, a review of your personal medical history, and a recommendation on what imaging is appropriate for you. Ultrasounds are very safe, they are non-invasive, and they do not use radiation. They can be used to show the composition of the breast and what the blood flow is like in any area that has been the cause of concern in your breast. An ultrasound can help doctors determine what their levels of suspicion should be when it comes to their previous findings and what the ultrasound has discovered.

The whole procedure requires very little preparation on the end of the patient. Please leave any jewelry at home, and we recommend that you wear comfortable clothing for the exam. Just like a mammogram, you will be asked to undress from the waist up and wear a gown for the procedure. During the procedure, a device called a transducer is moved over your breast, and it sends out sound waves that bounce off your breast tissue. These sound waves are at too high of a frequency for you to hear during the exam. The waves that bounce back are picked up by the transducer and create a picture of the inside of your breast. Another device called a Doppler Probe can also be used during this process. This probe will let your doctor hear the sound waves that are sent out through the breast, and they will hear how fast your blood is flowing through the blood vessels in your breasts. Faint sound or no sound at all might mean that you have a blockage in the blood flow through your breast, and could require more tests to find out why this is happening.

Breast MRI

The third type of imaging you might experience is an MRI. An MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses a strong magnet to measure the uptake of activity in areas of the breast tissues to look for abnormalities. A contrast solution is administered to identify abnormal areas within the breast tissue. Breast MRI is a common modality for patients considered high risk. During a breast MRI, the machine will capture multiple images of your breast. Once they are all taken, the images will be combined by a computer to create detailed pictures. An MRI is sometimes used when a woman has already been diagnosed with breast cancer. The MRI will help measure the size of the cancer, will look to see if there are any other tumors in the breast, and will see if there are any other tumors in the other breast. MRI can also be used to screen for cancer. Women who are at high risk for breast cancer will also receive an MRI along with their yearly mammograms for extra protection. An MRI can detect other forms of cancer that can sometimes be missed by a mammogram.

Dense Breasts

Women who have dense breasts have a higher risk for breast cancer. Up to 20% of breast cancers cannot be seen on traditional imaging if you have dense breasts. If you have been told you have dense breast tissue or have a question about the density of your breast tissue, contact us for a consultation for a breast exam and recommendations for screening. Dense breasts themselves have higher amounts of glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissues and relatively low amounts of fatty breast tissue. The only way to show if you have dense breasts is through a mammogram, it cannot be felt in a self-exam or an exam by your doctor. According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly half of all women that are 40 and over that get mammograms have dense breasts. Dense breasts can be inherited but can also be caused by using postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and by having a low body mass index. Having children and as you grow older can cause the density of your breasts to lower. The denser the breast, the harder it is to receive clear readings from a mammogram. This can cause women to be called back in for more tests or screening as mammograms on women with dense breasts can miss cancer, putting them at higher risk. There are four different levels of breast density; almost entirely fatty, scattered areas of fibroglandular density, heterogeneously dense, and extremely dense. Heterogeneously and extremely dense categorized breasts are considered to be dense breasts.

Abnormal Breast Imaging

Women aged 40 and older are recommended to have annual mammograms. "Abnormal mammograms" can have many causes. Patients who have abnormal mammograms should have further evaluation. If you have ever had an abnormal mammogram or are being told your breast imaging is abnormal, it is recommended that your mammogram exam is followed up with a visit to a specialist. Contact us for a consultation with a dedicated breast specialist to include a clinical breast exam, a potential ultrasound in the office, cyst aspiration, biopsies, or breast MRI ordering if indicated. Please remember too, as we mentioned in our last blog, not all abnormal findings on your mammogram mean that you have cancer. It could be a calcium build-up, a benign condition, a cyst, a harmless lump, dense breast tissue, or a non-cancerous tumor! Also, distortions can happen on a mammogram too, causing inaccurate results. This might just mean you have to come back for clearer images to be taken. If you've had an abnormal mammogram you might have further tests done like a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy. A biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure where a small amount of tissue is removed from the area in question for further tests. There are fine needled biopsies, core needed biopsies, and surgical biopsies. Also note that scar tissues can often appear white on a mammogram, which at first look can be alarming. Please make your doctor aware of any scarring on the breast before your mammogram.

There is more to caring for your breasts than just getting a yearly mammogram or giving yourself a monthly self-breast exam. All of us at the Breast Place want to make sure you know the extent that goes into caring for your breasts at all points in your life and what to expect once you begin getting mammograms. This knowledge can prepare you for the overall experience, what it can feel like, and what your results may or may not lead to. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us or schedule a consultation! We are here for you, warriors! Let's keep fighting together one day at a time!

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How To Prepare For a Mammogram

3/17/2021

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While mammograms are a yearly procedure that we recommend for our patients that are in their 40's and beyond, there can still be so much mystery in what a mammogram is, how to prepare for one, and what to expect after the experience itself. Today, we are dedicating this blog to everything you need to know about the realities of a mammogram inside and out. We will also be talking about the before, during, and after process of getting one!

Hello warriors! Welcome back to the Breast Place Blog! It has been a very exciting few weeks with a visit from our friend Amanda Syfriend, making appearances at the #pinkintherink hockey game with the South Carolina Stingrays, and supporting an incredible local charity called Share our Suzy. Share our Suzy, for our readers new to the charity, helps local breast cancer patients pay for utility bills, groceries, wigs, childcare, and much more. We are constantly fighting for, supporting, and educating those who are fighting and those who could one day fight if we don't find a cure fast enough. This is one of the many reasons why we invest our time and efforts into our social media pages and our blog, we want to share and spread awareness, support our community, and do everything we can to help. We appreciate all of our readers, followers, and supporters for their love and kindness they've shown to each of these platforms, and we applaud you for helping us achieve these goals, spread our message, and help lift up our warriors and fighters. With a whole year under our belts since the pandemic has started, we are coming out exhausted in more ways than one. There is still so much unknown and we hope that as time goes on, we continue to see a light at the end of the tunnel together. Let's continue to stay safe and make safe choices for our loved ones.

Our last few blogs have been dedicated to our products and services that you can find when you visit our offices, their amazing results, and the power they can give to your self-esteem and self-confidence. Today, we are going to be circling back and talking directly about services related to breast cancer and the prevention of it. Today, we are going to be talking about mammograms. While they should become part of your regular yearly checkups once you're over the age of 40, there are still so many people who aren't getting them and so many who are unaware and unsure about what the whole process entails. Today, we are going to continue to use this platform as a tool for education to clear up any questions and confusion about mammograms, and to persuade you to get them if you're not already doing so.

What Is A Mammogram?

What comes to mind when you think about what a mammogram is? Just the squashing of your breasts between a piece of machinery to see if you have any signs of breast cancer? While that might be one way to think about it, there is so much more to it than that, and believe us it is worth your time and the compression you'll experience on your breasts. We've talked about mammogram benefits in our blogs over the last few years and why you begin getting them once you turn 40. One of the reasons why women under the age of 40 don't get them is that the tissue in your breasts is too firm to be penetrated with the X-ray that is used in the procedure itself. This is why it can be so difficult to detect breast cancer in women 40 and young. Once you hit 40 and begin to go through menopause, your breast tissue becomes less dense and not as firm, allowing the X-ray to penetrate the breast better. First and foremost, it is very important to remember that mammograms are a very important role in early breast cancer detection to help find it sooner, treat it faster, and help to lower the number of fatalities due to breast cancer.

Mammograms are done both for screening and diagnostic purposes. Once your doctor begins to advise you to start getting them, usually around the time you turn 40, these mammograms are used to detect any changes in the breast in women who have shown no previous signs or symptoms of cancer. This can help detect cancer before clinical signs begin. A diagnostic mammogram is used to investigate anything unusual that has appeared in a woman's breast including lumps, pain, changes in skin appearance, and more. This mammogram will include more images than a normal screening. According to the American Cancer Society, women with a normal risk of cancer should receive a mammogram every year starting at age 45 until age 54, while the Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening every two years, starting at age 50 until 74. Those with a higher risk of breast cancer will benefit from starting mammograms sooner, and it is best to speak to your doctor about when best to begin your mammogram process. During the mammogram itself, a patient's breasts will be compressed between two separate hard surfaces to help spread out the breast tissue. This will help the X-ray capture images of the breasts. Once the breasts have been compressed, an X-ray takes black and white photos of the breasts that will then be examined by your doctor for any signs of abnormalities or cancer.

Tips for Getting a Mammogram

You're scheduled for your first mammogram, and you know the basics of what it is and what's going to happen. What are some other things to keep in mind to make it a comfortable experience?

Don't be afraid about getting a mammogram. According to the American Cancer Society, only 2 to 4 in 1000 screenings leads to a diagnosis. The more you know, the better you can prevent it!
Choose a facility that frequently or only does mammograms, and once you begin going to a facility keep going to the same one. if you have any questions, we can help with that!
Make sure to dress comfortably. It is recommended to wear pants or a skirt, so all you need to remove is your top for the exam.
If this is your first mammogram, please come prepared with a full medical history and share any changes or abnormalities that have appeared in your breasts. Also, bring a list of any treatments you've had done to your breasts in the past.
It's recommended not to get a mammogram during the week before your period. To avoid extra discomfort, schedule an appointment when your breasts aren't tender and swollen. This also helps with the quality of the photos that the X-ray will take.
On exam day, don't wear antiperspirants or deodorants. They can contain ingredients that can show up on the X-ray as white spots.
If you are breastfeeding or think you could be pregnant, please share this information with your doctor before your exam.
During the exam, the procedure will only last 20 minutes and the compression will last a few seconds on each breast. If it does hurt, please tell the tech. Two views of your breasts will be taken, but if you have implants or larger breasts, more might be needed.
You will have to undress above the waist but you will be given a wrap to wear during your exam. A tech will be the only one in the room with you.
You will be standing for the exam, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Caffeine can make your breasts feel more tender, so limiting your coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate intake a few days before your exam can be helpful.
Eat and drink as you normally would before your appointment, and take your daily medications too.
Don't wear necklaces during the exam, it's best to leave them at home.

What To Expect After a Mammogram?

You've made your appointment and have been seen by the doctor, now what?

Once you've finished at the doctor's office, you're all set! It is recommended that while at the doctor's to just go ahead and schedule your next visit.
The pain and discomfort felt during the exam should stop very shortly after compression, but aching can be felt for a few days after the exam. Using an anti-inflammatory, a heating pad or bath, and avoiding tight clothes can help!
Once you're finished, your doctor will send your full results to your healthcare provider along with a summary mailed directly to you. If you don't hear back from your provider 10 days after the exam, make sure to call and check-in.
Please know it is very common to be called back after your screening. Your doctor might have found something they want to look at a little closer just to be safe. This call back will most likely lead to more pictures and tests. This is when a diagnostic mammogram is used!
You might also need to get an ultrasound on the area doctors want a better look at and an MRI is also possible.
You could be told one of three things in this situation; that it is nothing to worry about and to continue with your regular screenings, that it's nothing to worry about but just to be safe you should come back in 6 months, or that it could be cancer and you need to get a biopsy. Remember, even if you do get a biopsy this still doesn't mean you have cancer!

If you have any more questions about mammograms and the experience of getting one, please do not hesitate to reach out! We are here to answer any questions and calm any worries. Until next time warriors, stay strong and keep fighting!

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Avoiding Troubles Ahead; Issues with Lactation

What Are The Different Kinds of Breast Imaging?

How To Prepare For a Mammogram

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