Can You Breastfeed With Nipple-Piercings? Effects & Precautions

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Motherhood involves various challenges, and one of them is breastfeeding. Some mothers might have pierced nipples, thus prompting them to ask if it is safe to breastfeed with nipple piercings. Although nipple piercing may not cause any harm to you, it raises the risk of choking or hurting the baby when feeding. Also, there can be cases where the piercing might hinder the milk flow from the nipple, affecting the baby’s nourishment.

Read on as we give you an insight into how nipple piercings affect breastfeeding and what precautions you should observe when breastfeeding a baby with pierced nipples.

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

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Probably. There is insufficient research on the impact of maternal nipple piercings on breastfeeding and the infant. No global medical body or governmental organization has passed recommendations or statements regarding breastfeeding with pierced nipples (1).

Anecdotal accounts of mothers with pierced nipples reveal that the piercings have no impact on the milk flow, milk production, and the infant’s ability to breastfeed. Some experts also point out that several women with nipple piercings can breastfeed without any complications (1). Nevertheless, there can be some negative effects of a pierced nipple on breastfeeding.

How Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding And The Baby?

Nipple piercings may not have a direct impact on breastfeeding, but seem to increase the risk of some complications and problems, which are discussed next.

• Nipple piercings have been linked to several infections. Lactation experts point out that mothers with nipple piercings are at a higher risk of infections like mastitis and hepatitis. There is also a higher risk of clogged milk ducts when the nipple is pierced (2). While a mother can still breastfeed with infection, some diseases like hepatitis C can transmit from the mother to baby through breastfeeding, unless the infant is immunized (3).

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• The pierced nipple may cause abnormal milk production. Nipple piercings have been linked to abnormal milk production and the inadequacy of milk for the baby (4) .

• The pierced nipple could cause excess milk flow. Sometimes, when the baby suckles, the milk flows out from the pierced part of the nipple, creating excess milk flow. A mother who had scars from her nipple piercing shares how it caused some inconvenience when she started breastfeeding her newborn. She says, “If you are a person who scars easily, there is a great chance that you may have scar tissue between your piercing that leads to the end of the nipple. There was minor scarring in my breast, and that caused me to have a little bit of issues getting milk to come out…Breastfeeding would have been a lot easier had I not had that piercing (i).”

Quick tip

To slow the milk flow, try lying on your side or leaning back (9).

• The baby may have trouble latching to the nipple. The nipple jewelry could pose a problem in latching. A piercing on the nipple may result in scar tissue, distorting the shape of the nipple and making it difficult for a baby to maintain adequate suction.

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• Nipple jewelry poses a choking hazard. The Australian Association of Breastfeeding states that nipple jewelry is a choking hazard to the baby 5. A nipple ring may loosen out and slip into the baby’s throat during breastfeeding.

The above problems do not entirely indicate that you cannot breastfeed with a nipple piercing. That said, you need to take some precautions when you are breastfeeding.

What Precautions To Take While Breastfeeding From A Pierced Nipple?

Here are a few ways to keep the baby safe:

• Choose jewelry meant for nipples. Wear jewelry that is designed for nipples and not other parts of the body. For instance, do not use an earring as a nipple ring. Choosing the right jewelry for your nipple can help prevent abnormal nipple scarring and prevent discomfort while feeding.

• Do not breastfeed until the nipple is entirely healed. Never breastfeed until the nipple has healed completely. A pierced nipple can take a very long time to heal, sometimes about 18 months (1). If you are planning to get pregnant and also get your nipple pierced, then get the nipple piercing done first. Make sure that the gap between the day of piercing and your day of delivery is over 18 months so that you can breastfeed your baby safely.

Image: IStock

• Remove the nipple ring/stud before feeding. Medical experts state that you must always remove a nipple ring before breastfeeding the baby (6). It makes breastfeeding less uncomfortable for the baby while also preventing the chances of choking. It is highly recommended and best practice to completely remove nipple jewelry during the entire time you plan to breastfeed. The piercing may close up, it is the safest for your baby.

Caution

To prevent infection in your nipples, wash your hands before removing and replacing your jewelry and keep it meticulously clean (8).

• Use piercing retainer when needed. If removing and putting the jewelry back seems too much of a chore, you can consider placing a hole retainer inside the piercing. The retainer is usually a piece of plastic or nylon that temporarily takes the place of the piercing. Of course, you need to remove the retainer before breastfeeding! But removing a retainer can be a lot easier and faster than removing the jewelry.

• Do not exclusively feed on the non-pierced nipple. Some mothers may only have one nipple pierced and thus invariably do all the feeding from the breast that does not have the piercing. That is not a good idea for both your breasts produce milk and using only one for feeding can lead to breast engorgement and clogged milk ducts and mastitis eventually. Use both breasts for feeding and remove the nipple jewelry before feeding the baby (7).

Following these precautions can help prevent the nipple piercing from being an obstacle to breastfeeding. However, there are some scenarios when you should pause breastfeeding and visit the doctor.

When To Visit A Doctor?

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There could be times when the nipple piercing may pose a problem. Stop breastfeeding and visit a doctor when:

• There’s bleeding from the nipple piercing. If the nipple with the piercing is bleeding, chances are it has dried and blistered due to constant nursing. Bleeding may also happen if the baby bites while nursing. Pause breastfeeding from the affected breast and consult the doctor to prevent complications.

• The piercing closes, causing complications. If you are spending a lot of time without the nipple jewelry, then the piercing could close. The closure should not cause any complications, but if you notice some problem with the milk flow and production, then consult a doctor or lactation consultant.

• You notice pus or liquid oozing from the piercing. If you see a clear fluid or pus coming out from the piercing, then visit a doctor. Such a case is more likely to happen when you begin breastfeeding before the nipple heals.

Breastfeeding with pierced nipples is not contraindicated, but it may cause complications such as infections, underproduction or overproduction of breastmilk, latching issues for babies, or the nipple jewelry might also be a choking hazard. Therefore, it is important to maintain the suggested gap between getting your nipples pierced and the expected day of starting breastfeeding. Follow proper hygiene and keep the piercing clean to keep infections at bay. If you have pierced nipples, you may consider talking to your lactation consultant or gynecologist to help you have a smooth breastfeeding journey.

Infographic: Possible Effects Of Nipple Piercings On Breastfeeding

Nipple piercings have grown in popularity. But it may also raise concerns about the safe breastfeeding of a baby, considering the potential impact of piercings on breastfeeding and the well-being of infants. The infographic below enlists potential problems that may arise during breastfeeding due to nipple piercings in a lactating woman.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

If you have nipple piercings and contemplating breastfeeding your little one, do not be worried. Check out this informative video to get some handy tips to make it work without pain.

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Briana ViolandIBCLC, CSC

Briana Violand, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Certified Child Sleep Consultant (CSC), graduated from Tiffin University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant (CSC) through the Family Sleep Institute.

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Rohit GarooBSc, MBA

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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Dr. Ritika ShahBDS, CLC

Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College.

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Anindita GhatakB.Tech

Anindita Ghatak holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from Amity University, Kolkata. During the course of her studies, she has worked on different research projects in the fields of Microbiology and Bioinformatics. Anindita has over three years of experience writing medical articles for journals.

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