Margaret and Stewart Wills <[log in to unmask]> wrote: The Lactnet archives and the wonderful Breastfeeding Atlas had
discussion of pierced nipples as generally compatible with
breastfeeding, despite potential for scarring, leaking and some
complications. But I want more input for a question posed by a very
nice mother, after my breastfeeding class. She's in the last month or
so, wearing a nipple ring that was inserted, without any ensuing
complication, about 10 years ago, and she asked if she should remove it
during pregnancy.
My initial thought, and in line with what I've read, was to remove
this foreign object *now*, especially since the breast is growing and
changing during the pregnancy. But then I started ruminating -- much of
the breast growth has already taken place early on, and since the
piercing was so long ago, it seems the tissue should be healed and
stable, and removing the ring shouldn't change anything.. Even so,
pierced holes can close up (even after so long a time?), and maybe a
breast attempting to heal up during those last weeks of pregnancy could
present more problems -- maybe it would be better not to remove the
jewelry until the birth, to avoid closing up any pathways that may have
canalized around the obstruction? In other words, not to mess with it
until the milk is flowing?
It seems like there would be more potential for irritation and
infection if she's removing and reinserting the ring repeatedly (though
maybe not if it is indeed healed and sealed up?) so it does seem that
once it has been removed, it should stay out. Do some mothers with
pierced nipples remove the nipple just for the nursing sessions?. There
were some posts referring to women with barbell-style jewelry actually
nursing with the jewelry on!
Maybe I'm over-thinking the question (certainly that's my downfall
sometimes...) , but I'd love to get someone to ruminate with me on this.
Margaret Sabo Wills, LLLL, IBCLC
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