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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