Can You Breastfeed With Nipple Piercings; a Must-read Guide
Can you breastfeed with nipple piercings? This is a common question asked by the moms. Nipple piercing is a form of self-expression, but being a mom, you are still confused and want to know how piercings will affect nursing. In this article, we will dive into this subject and provide need-to-know information about nipple piercings.
Can you breastfeed with nipple piercings
The answer is yes. Pierced nipples and nipple jewelry usually do not cause any complication in breastfeeding. However, it would be best if you waited until the piercing fully heals. Do not be so panicked because it does not damage milk production because milk is produced in the mammary glands of mammals, which is located behind the nipples in the breast.
After giving birth, your mammary glands itself produced milk, whether you have pierced or not. This does not happen to everyone, but it might occur if piercing blocks or damaged ducts in the nipples and milk does not flow easily.
Problems related to nipple piercing
Issues that have been associated with nipple piercings for some mothers include
- Blocked ducts or mastitis
- Fast flow and slow flow
- Bacterial infection
- Continued milk production
- Loss or increased insensitivity
Blocked ducts or mastitis
In some cases, piercings can cause damage to the ducts which carry milk to the nipples. There are several pores in the nipples, so it is unlikely that they would all be damaged by the single piercing. It can lead to duct blockage. If milk is not supplied from the duct, then it means that the ducts are blocked, and this condition is called mastitis. Multiple piercings also cause this problem.
Fast flow and slow flow
Sometimes milk flows from many sides, and babies face difficulty having it. This happens because the milk flows faster from the piercing site instead of nipples. Alternatively, if the duct is blocked or damaged, milk flow is reduced and causes slow discharge, which is frustrating for the babies.
Bacterial infection
There is an increased risk of bacterial infection and mastitis with the nipple piercings. So mothers should be conscientious about such signs like rashes, redness, or pain. It is advised that the saliva should not enter in the piercing site as it increases the infection. So it is best to heal the sharp site before breastfeeding completely.
Continued milk production
Some women suffer from continued milk production even when they are wearing nipple piercings. This increases spontaneous milk production, which is unrelated to breastfeeding.
Loss or increased insensitivity
Some women lose sensitivity in their nipple piercings or, in some cases, increased sensitivity. A lack of feeling could affect milk ejection and hypersensitivity, which lead to breastfeeding painful.
Breastfeeding Safety tips with nipple piercing
If you decide to breastfeed with nipple piercing, then it is essential to consider some safety tips. Here I list some
- Always wash your hands before breastfeeding with antibacterial soap before handling nipple piercings.
- Before re interest, thoroughly clean it up with warm water and gentle soap. You can also soak it in the sea-salt. It is a natural antiseptic.
- Allow jewelry to dry entirely before reinsert.
As a general, if you plan a baby in the next month or if you are currently breastfeeding, then do not get nipple piercing. It can take about 12 months to heal nipple piercing fully.
