Barbara's nipple rings case completely intrigues me.  As I have never seen
these things I'm completely ignorant of course, but what I'm finding so
fascinating is that the mom sees the baby's disconcerted behaviour, coming
on and off the breast, and all the other things - chafing, slurping, soggy
tape, and rings in baby's mouth (how's that for a "normal" oral experience,
does it hurt the baby too?) as *okay*.  It hasn't occurred to her to simply
*remove* the rings for the time that the baby is breastfeeding??  It's the
mom's priorities (beauty vs function) that interest me the most!

> I saw a mom today with 4 week old infant who had bilateral pierced nipples.
>She has nipple rings that she tapes down with a long piece of tape. The rings
>are very difficult to take apart and the tape does hold them down. ( my first
>concern was will the rings come off and pose a choking hazard and/or will tape
>loosen and also cause choking )  Mom is experienceing sore nipples. On
>observation, the infant does come on and off the nipple several times at the
>start of the feeding, and there is occassionally a slurping sound, which I've
>decided is caused by milk collecting around tape. Also the  tape rubbing on
>underside of nipple is causing irritation. Mom states she is changing from
>nipple rings to " barbell " type in hopes this will eliminate irritation. Has
>anyone else worked with a mom with pierced nipples and what is the latest
>information on this? Mom is awaiting information.  This is a new one for >me!!!

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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