Nipple Piercings?

[justice6920]

Hi Ladies...... I have a quick question for you.... I breast fed my daughter for about 6months and wanted to try again with the second (currently 24 weeks preggo) But since my daughter has been born (10 years ago) I have had both nipples pierced.... Will this cause any problems with breast feeding? I know I will have to take them out when breast feeding... But is there any certain time before birth I should be taking them out? Any info would be helpful?

[cminamyer]

I had mine for about 2 years and took them out about a year before DD was born.  I breastfed her for about 8 1/2 months.  My holes didn't close all the way though and milk would come out but she was just fine with feeding.  Like ashie said they only get as much milk as they suck, it doesn't flow out freely.  So either way, if they close or the holes are still open the baby may get milk from them but it doesn't hurt them and it's not to much.  Good luck!

[justice6920]

oh ok! And i have had them for wow almost 8 years and really probably wouldnt miss them either if they closed.... I am sure DH wouldnt really care to much either LOL I have had them so long

[jennymay]

I took mine out in February when I had surgery, and my mom threw away the ball that held the hoop together, so I decided that I would just leave it out. I had it for over 5 years, so the novelty of it really wore off, and I wasn't partial one way or the other about keeping it. Even my DH didn't care that I didn't put it back in, it just wasn't anything either of us really noticed. Mine seems like it is pretty close to being completely healed though, so it has been about 9 months now.

[justice6920]

I was thinking about just taking them out for the time period that i nursed.... and probably keeping them out for the first couple months.... I am hoping they dont close but I assume it will be easier to just keep them out for the first month or two since the feedings are so frequent....

How long did it take your holes to close?

[g8r grl]

I had mine done when I was 18 and then took them out when I was 22 (about a year before I had my son). They closed up really nicely and you can't even tell that I ever had it done. I had no problems breastfeeding and everything worked just fine.

I was told beforehand that I could nurse with them in, which is totally weird to me and something that I would never do. Are you planning on taking them out for good? Or just while you nurse?

[jennymay]

Oh wow! That is great to hear!! It's not that common of an issue, so I could never find anyone that had actually had the piercing and breastfed! I heard those stories too, and while I didn't fully believe them, I still thought it might affect it in some way or another. Thanks for the info, that is such a relief :)

[ashiepooh]

lol  No ahaha the baby will only get as much milk and they suck for, lol...  I heard someone try to tell my friend that after she had breastfeed all 3 of her kids, and we laughed really hard!  LOL  

So no worries!  Should be a breeze!  But when you do take the rings out, you will want to thoroughly clean and boil before you put them back in, so you don't get bacteria in there, and put them in after you've cleaned your hands!  

[justice6920]

Oh cool! Glad to hear that.... I have heard some STUPID stories like the extra whole with make more milk and the baby will choke and drown LOL I didnt believe that but I did kinda think Hmmmm Wonder what kind of issues it could cause.... that makes me feel tons better!

[ashiepooh]

No it wont cause any problems!  My friend has both her nipples piereced, and breastfeed all three of her daughters!  She just didn't wear the nipple rings for the first 3 months, and then took them out when she was feeding her kids!  Oh and she took them out the day she had each one of them!

[jennymay]

Lol, well I don't have an answer to your question, but I have wondered this as well. I had one nipple piercing and I took it out in February, when I had surgery. I wonder how this will affect breast feeding, because it is something I would like to try to do. I have yet to find anyone with experience with it, everyone I have talked to has said I will just have to wait and see.