Dear Trish,
I have only one experience with pierced nipples, and I will share it.  Young mom
asked me at breastfeeding class if they would make a difference.  I told her I
didn't know, we would have to see after the baby was born. I kind of thought she
meant pierced areolas, but NO, it was bars through the nipple itself, thick
ones.  Looked very painful to me and I couldn't imagine ever going through that.

Her baby nursed fairly well after birth but was hospitalized on day 3 with
bilirubin of 22, put under the lites, mom started giving baby formula by doctors
orders.  We used a breast pump to obtain milk for the baby, but she reported
that even on minimum suction, the pumping was very painful.  She got a full
supply and we were able to obtain several ounces for the baby every few hours,
but she felt it was too painful to pump, and then decided once the baby was
better to go ahead and formula feed, because she felt closer to the baby when
she bottle fed.  She felt the scar tissue caused the pain, and there was quite a
bit of scar tissue.

The baby is 3 weeks old, back in the hospital with RSV now...Sure hate to see
that.

I guess each case would need to be assessed, kind of like after breast
reduction.

Ann Calandro
North Carolina  (in the 20's and freezin")