Should nipple piercings preclude you from breast-feeding?

ukstudent · Jul 30, 2006

We had a lady once that wanted to breastfeed but didn't bother to take the nipple rings out prior to going in labor. After the baby was born, she couldn't get them out. Maintenance had to come and cut them off. Ended up being able to breastfeed though.

chuchie, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, APRN, NP · Jul 30, 2006

Seriously! I don't know why anyone would want to breast feed a child with a nipple piercing! This is definitely amusing.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 31, 2006

It may sound funny, but this is an issue we will increasingly see and deal with. I am glad someone took the time to write the article to deal with the issue, myself.

mrsdizzy · Jul 31, 2006

I found breast feeding to be painful enough, who would want to add nipple piercings is beyond me!? :confused:

cardsRN · Jul 31, 2006

sooooo... both of my nipples are pierced and i have been happily breastfeeding my son for 8.5 months now. i took the jewelry out before he was born. but if i hadn't it still wouldn't be a problem. if the peircings are healed, the jewelry can be removed and reinserted at any time. think of your ears guys. it's just like that.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 31, 2006

sooooo... both of my nipples are pierced and i have been happily breastfeeding my son for 8.5 months now. i took the jewelry out before he was born. but if i hadn't it still wouldn't be a problem. if the peircings are healed, the jewelry can be removed and reinserted at any time. think of your ears guys. it's just like that.

But people do not suck on your ears with a strong latch for 10 mins or so at a time several times a day.:kiss . But if you can take them out without the holes closing why take the risk of leaving them in? Its a matter of being lazy if you don't, IMO.

nursejohio, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

But if you can take them out without the holes closing why take the risk of leaving them in? Its a matter of being lazy if you don't, IMO.

Not always... Barbells (straight or curved) can be removed really easily in a matter of seconds, while captive bead rings are pretty tricky. They can't be removed like earrings, it takes a ring spreader (think hemostats with grooves)

http://www.body-jewelry-shop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CBR-BlGlass&Category_Code=22&Product_Count=5

BabyRN2Be · Jul 31, 2006

OK, when I was going for my certified breastfeeding educator credential class, we did talk about this subject.

Now, I don't have piercings or have a I breastfeed a baby, so take some of this info for what it's worth.

One of the concerns was whether or not the piercing was firmly secure when feeding. If not secure, the baby could end up swallowing the piercing.

This has me thinking a little bit. Tomorrow when I'm fully awake, I'll do some more research on this with the manual they gave me on the subject. I'll post what I find. At the moment I can hardly keep my eyes open, which begs the question, why am I still here?

Goodnight.. in a little bit. :)

enfermeraSG · Jul 31, 2006

Personally, if it were me - I would remove them before feeding the baby.

One of my coworkers had them and when she tried breastfeeding one of her nipples leaked constantly, completely emptying the breast. I'm thinking it must have to do with where the piercing went through on that one?? Not sure, but it happened with both of her children and she was unable to breastfeed because that breast leaked like a faucet 24/7! SG