Maintaining Breastfeeding in Mothers and Infants Following Incision and Drainage Surgery for Breast Abscess: A Case Series.

Objective: Ineffective latching during breastfeeding can lead to milk stasis, cracked nipples, bacterial ingress, and mastitis, which if left untreated may form an abscess. In Indonesia, breast abscesses larger than 3 cm can lead to hospitalization and surgery, risking early cessation of breastfeeding. Methods: Here we report 15 cases of breast abscess among breastfeeding dyads attending the lactation department of Puri Cinere Hospital, Depok, West Java, Indonesia, between September 1, 2020, and October 31, 2022. Results: Patients were managed with hospitalization and tailored multidisciplinary care from a team involving a surgeon, a pediatrician IBCLC, and lactation doctors (general physicians specialized in lactation with IBCLC or breastfeeding counselor certification) to manage the abscess while optimizing on-demand direct inpatient breastfeeding. Of 15 cases, 14 (93%) continued breastfeeding successfully for 6 months after surgery. One dyad was hospitalized for 5 days and refused to breastfeed after surgery, instead giving formula. Conclusions: This case series highlights that breastfeeding can be successfully preserved in mothers and infants following surgery for breast abscess with appropriate multidisciplinary management.