Breastfeeding After Breast Cancer & Double Mastectomy: Using a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) for Low Milk Supply with Doula Emily Betancur
BREASTFEEDING WITH CONFIDENCE | Pregnancy Tips, Postpartum Wellness, Milk Supply, Tongue Tie, Latch PainShow Notes
Can you breastfeed after breast cancer—even after a double mastectomy? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, I’m joined by my friend Emily, a birth worker and breast cancer survivor, to talk honestly about what breastfeeding can look like after cancer—and how a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) made it possible for her to nurse her babies at the breast. This conversation challenges the idea that breastfeeding is only about milk production. We talk about bonding, healing, hormones, and why breastfeeding still counts even when it doesn’t look the way you expected. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, supporting one, or working with mothers navigating complex breastfeeding situations, this episode is for you. And if you don't have breast cancer? This episode is still helpful for moms supplementing for low milk supply!
In This Episode, We Cover:
Can you breastfeed after breast cancer or a double mastectomy?
What a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) is and how it works
Using an SNS with low or no milk supply
Why breastfeeding is about more than milk
Emotional healing and closure after cancer through nursing
How long an SNS can be used
Practical tips for using a Supplemental Nursing System successfully
Why breastfeeding after cancer still “counts”
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If you’re pregnant and planning to breastfeed, you’ve probably already decided you’ll only use formula if it’s medically necessary. But here’s the hard truth: most moms are never taught how to determine what “medically necessary” actually means in the first 48 hours after birth. Nearly 80% of American moms start breastfeeding, yet many babies receive formula in the hospital due to concerns about weight loss, blood sugar, jaundice, or latch issues. The problem? Normal newborn physiology is often presented as urgent. And when you’re exhausted and vulnerable, “just to be safe” supplementation can feel like the only option. In this episode, we break down: