Hello Elisha and all, We always wear gloves when assisting a mother and baby with breastfeeding whether it is breast exam, assisting with positioning/attachment, or helping with breast pumping. Beyond universal precautions, which are reason enough for such practice, I consider a mother's breast as a "plate of food" for the infant. That is no place for a stranger's ungloved hands! Speaking as one coming with a strong public health background, it gives me the heebie-geebies to think of not wearing gloves. Pardee Hinson, MPH, IBCLC