Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Health and Safety



Message

vicki2725 -> Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 10:46:59 AM)

Hi everyone, just have a question about pierced nipples. I am 27 I was thinking about getting my nipples pierced. Can anyone tell me the effect that has on breast-feeding or producing milk. Thank you for any help I can get. I've try to do research but really don't come back with anything. Everybody is usually so helpful I've read a lot of comments and suggestions on this site. Everybody is so nice and ready to help.[:)]



yourMissTress -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 11:18:49 AM)

Having your nipples pierced will not stop the production of breast milk.

Since the piercing creates scar tissue, that tissue will cut off the flow of milk from the milk ducts through the nipple where the tissue exists. If there's a duct that is not closed off by the scar tissue the milk flow through that duct will be unobstructed.

I know people that were both able and unable to breast feed their children after nipple piercing, but it's most likely that if nothing else the flow of milk will be restricted by the scar tissue. Which can also have a very adverse affect on the mother.

My nipples were not pierced until after my child was weaned. I didn't want to take any chance that I would not be able to nurse my children.



JohnWarren -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 12:32:38 PM)

The milk ducts are not one or two passages but something like a sponge. The healing from a piercing will block one or two of these but is unlikely to have a substantial effect on milk "production."

That said, to make yourself more comfortable, I'd really recommend you speak with your physician about this rather than taking the advice of face-less people on an internet site



Aileen68 -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 1:27:35 PM)

If you're that concerned about it then wait until after you're done breastfeeding before you do it.
Then there's no issue.
I would wait personally.
I breastfed two and can't imagine how latch on could be done effectively if you were pierced.
Then again I'm not all that knowledgable with nipple piercings. I don't even know if you can remove them for any length of time.
Keep in mind that little ones spend a lot of time at the breast in the first three months and it could become quite uncomfortable for both of you.
Also get in touch with someone from your local La Leche League. They should be in your phone book and will probably have some answers for you.
Your ob should be able to answer your questions too.



mistoferin -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 4:00:26 PM)

As has already been said the scar tissue from piercing will plug off some of your ducts. A plugged duct is VERY painful and can lead to mastitis which is even MORE painful.

I talked this over with three different gynecologists and they all had the same answer...it was best to wait until you were sure you no longer wished to nurse a child. I put off having mine pierced until after I was sure...no more kids. Having already nursed one child before I had the desire to have the piercings done, I knew just how painful the above conditions can be....so waiting wasn't really a big deal.

A friend of mine also got an infection due to piercings and nursing....she had to have about half of her breast removed.



Aileen68 -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 4:58:05 PM)

quote:

A plugged duct is VERY painful and can lead to mastitis which is even MORE painful.


OMG yes. How could I forget. I had this. You feel like you have the flu, you're dizzy, your breast is tender, red and swollen. And through it all you have no choice but continue to get up every two and a half hours and breastfeed.
So that is a very real possibility and something you don't want.



windchymes -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/3/2006 5:27:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

quote:

A plugged duct is VERY painful and can lead to mastitis which is even MORE painful.


OMG yes. How could I forget. I had this. You feel like you have the flu, you're dizzy, your breast is tender, red and swollen. And through it all you have no choice but continue to get up every two and a half hours and breastfeed.
So that is a very real possibility and something you don't want.


Even without piercings, my first baby (who will be 24 soon) was a breast-feeding nightmare. Apparently some of my ducts are "kinked" (how appropos is that?) in my left nipple and it was always difficult for a latch-on with that side. It also developed mastitis, and, since it had swelled so badly, the baby couldn't latch on and my glad-to-help-out husband at the time had to "drain" it himself. After 3 weeks of misery, I switched him to bottles. (the baby, not the husband)
Fortunately, his younger brother had no troubles and he got the boob for almost a year.

If there were any possibility that I might want to nurse any babies, I just wouldn't risk a piercing. Breast-feeding is a wonderful thing and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but it can have it's own set of problems. Why risk adding to them?



LadyMegaera -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/7/2006 12:32:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: vicki2725

Hi everyone, just have a question about pierced nipples. I am 27 I was thinking about getting my nipples pierced. Can anyone tell me the effect that has on breast-feeding or producing milk. Thank you for any help I can get. I've try to do research but really don't come back with anything. Everybody is usually so helpful I've read a lot of comments and suggestions on this site. Everybody is so nice and ready to help.[:)]



I had my nipples pierced several years ago and took them out after only 8 months because I just didn't like them. 9/05 I had a baby and had difficulty producing enough milk to for my son. In addition, I didn't have the typical 'let down' most women have and it seemed that some of my ducts had been blocked and rendered useless because of the scar tissue. Essentially, I didn't have as many outlets as I should have had.
Now, I can't say if all of this was due to my previous piercings, but you can never tell. If you're pierced now and intend to nurse. Remove the piercings and let them heal. You can't nurse with a ring or bar on your nipple anyway as it would prevent proper latch on.
If you haven't had them pierced and are thinking about it, I would wait until you're done having and nursing children.
Hey, you can always pierce something else like your labia and hell, I think that's more fun anyway!
LM



MarinaBlack -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/7/2006 4:07:03 PM)

Hello and good day.
I have been a piercer for 13 years and this is what I have learned from my clients and experience...

The nipple has many, many milk ducts. The piercing bisects only a few. There is no isse with milk production or expression.
What usually becomes and issue is that the nipples will grow, requiring larger jewellery and that babies suck HARD, requiring the mother to remove the jewellery while feeding her child.

There are, of course, ALWAYS exceptions to the rule, so there may be the odd individual who could have a negative experience. I just haven't heard of any in my whole career as a piercer.

Hope this helps.



vicki2725 -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/9/2006 11:33:22 AM)

Thank you everyone for your help.



starshineowned -> RE: Breast-feeding with pierced nipples (3/9/2006 1:16:52 PM)

Greetings..~smiles~

I had my left nipple pierced when my 2nd was born 6yrs ago. They just told me outright that I could not breast feed him if I did not remove and keep out the piercing. It was a matter of several issue's..possible blocked ducts..dangers of infant sucking down the ring if did not remove each time..more importantly they stated that you could not adequately wash and clean the nipple area as effectively and that even though I may have no bad effects from the bacteria present as it slides in and out the nip when putting in or removing..the infant will most likely not be as lucky.

starshine
Happy slave of Master Delvin



Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.046875