Hi all.  Well, living in a place like Austin it was only a matter of time
before I saw my 1st pierced nipple client.  When I attended the Rush Univ.
meeting in Chicago last yr. there was a plastic surgeon there who I queried
about this.  He basically said he didn't have any info.

Here's the rundown on my client.  She's in late 20's, primip in 37th wk of
uncomplicated preg.  The nipple piercing was several years ago and the
insertions were with a fairly wide-bore ring (to prevent infection according
to the man with the animal name who inserted it.)  The piercing entered the
right nipple (which was inverted with a dimple) at the 3 o'clock position and
exited at the 9 o'clock position.  Sensitivity was retained (or heightened --
she remarked "this may have been psychological") and interestingly the ring
helped evert the nipple.  On the advice of her OB the ring was removed during
the 3-4th mo. of preg. and the hole has closed.  there is a small, fatty,
non-tender cyst about the size and shape of a lemon seed at the 3 o'clock
incision site.  She states that  during the preg. she has seen white strands
extrude from several ducts while others express more typical colostral
appearing fluids.

I will be very interested to follow her case and will certainly share what I
learn.  She has suggested I contact (the animal-named man) and discuss with
him the proceedure he used.  He runs a place with the word "Forbidden" in its
name.  Who knows, maybe I'll come home with a tatoo.  I'm thinking of
suggesting he rotate his incision site to minimize damage to the 4th
intercostal.  Any ideas on how to position that?  I'm thinking 2 o'clock and
7 o'clock.
Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC
priv.pract. Austin, Tx