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NIPPLE PIERCINGS AND BREAST FEEDING

Unfortunately no studies regarding nipple piercings and breast feeding have been conducted.

The nipple contains many milk ducts. Piercings intersect the nipple and the ducts perpendicularly. Most likely at least a few ducts would be blocked by the piercing. There is a risk of blocked ducts becoming irritated or infected if the milk collects in the blocked ducts and cannot be expressed.

Most piercers maintain that nipple piercings will not interfere with breast feeding later in life, provided that the piercings have completely healed with minimal scarring.

One reader reported that the jewelry became extremely uncomfortable during the final tri-mester, which forced her to remove the rings.

Removal of jewelry is suggested, a task which may become tiresome and painful with the condition of the nipples during breastfeeding; for many women breastfeeding can be quite painful at first. Jewelry may damage the baby's delicate palate and prevent the baby from forming the tight seal around the areola necessary for breast feeding.

Several women who have never had children, and a few men, have commented that they have experienced discharge through the front of the nipple during the latter stages of healing. This discharge is most likely discharge that is associated with a healing piercing and not milk. A representative of the Lactation Institute responded that piercing the nipple will not instigate milk flow.