Probably the single most common motivation for considering breast reduction surgery is chronic back, shoulder and neck pain. Research studies following up on the results of breast reduction surgery consistently find back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain can be improved by these procedures. Numerous studies have looked at these issues. What you may find interesting is that there is no direct relationship between bra cup size and the amount of breast size related symptoms experienced by patients. In recent study published in 2014 the commonest symptoms reported were back pain (90%) neck pain (80%), shoulder grooves (90%), rashes under the breasts (45%), headache (65%) exercise intolerance (80%), lack of self-esteem (90%), and poor posture (85%). Interestingly, when the patients were grouped according to the amount of breast tissue which was removed all patient groups experienced significant improvement in their symptoms. That is a woman having 250 g of breast tissue remo...

The most recent Australian data suggests less than 40% of women who have not had a breast reduction breastfeed their babies for 3months and only 15% make it to 6months.This data is comparable with overseas data on breast feeding rates in normal women.This must be kept in mind when discussing breast feeding after breast reduction.(1) These figures may be a surprise to many women who have yet to have children. Ninety six per cent  of women try breast feeding but for an infinite variety of reasons cannot or do not continue. Good data on breast feeding rates after breast reduction is surprisingly sparse. The research studies that have been published characteristically have small numbers of patients to report results on. It does appear fair to say that the published data suggest that  breast feeding is possible after breast reduction surgery. Success or failure with  breast feeding after breast reduction seems to be more likely to be related to non surgical...

It's fascinating to me that small busted women feel more confident with a larger bust when I know that a lot of big busted women feel less confident because they're busty. Why is there such a disconnect between the two? If this research were true for all women then larger breasted women should be overflowing with confidence when in reality some busty women go to extreme measures to hide their shape. We may often hear the story of the girl that was flat chested an all she wanted was to be "normal" so she gets a breast enlargement to make her feel more femine.  Women have to grapple with their body image from the moment they are aware that they are a girl. It is perhaps at puberty that this becomes even more evident where some develop large breasts and others don't. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the United States alone had 3,99,440 women going in for breast augmentation or enhancement in 2007. Another 1,53,807 went...

Recommended guidelines:
In Australia there are two organisations who have issued widely accepted  breast feeding guidelines. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1,2) recommends exclusive  breast feeding for babies for  6 months then breast feeding continuing along with the introduction of solid and other liquid  foods until 1-2  years of age.
The World Health Organisation (3) also recommends exclusive  breast feeding for babies up to 6 months of age and then continued breast feeding along with solid foods for 2 years. Exclusive breast feeding means babies are receiving only breast milk (no other liquids or solid foods or water are given).This can include expressed breast milk stored and given to your baby at a later date. (This is really relevant once you are back at work). So how are we doing (4,5)
The Australian statistics suggest most new mothers have a try at breast feeding ( 96%) but  exclusive breast fee...