Many girls and women get nipple piercings and, at the time of having children, doubts arise as to whether it can affect breastfeeding. It is advisable not to get any piercing during lactation or pregnancy due to possible risks of infection and the pain they can cause.
In the event that you already have it and want to breastfeed a baby, it is compatible, although certain precautions must be taken to prevent the baby from harming itself, since it could scrape its tongue, gums or palate. There is even a risk of choking, as the piercing could be swallowed.
So, first of all, to avoid this, it is essential to remove it before each shot. It can be somewhat cumbersome and there is a risk of infection from so much manipulation. For this reason, you can choose to withdraw it during the period of time that breastfeeding lasts. If you breastfeed for a long time, the holes may close up and you would have to redo them.
The fact of having piercings at the time of lactation can lead to the appearance of some problems, among them:
Getting a piercing supposes that a wound is formed that will have to heal. There are some that heal without problems, but others tend to form keloids, which would be an excessive growth of scar tissue. If this happens, it could make it difficult for the milk to flow because it can cause blockages or even deformation of the ducts.
Due to the scar, just the opposite could happen: milk might leak out of the piercing holes if the wound has not fully healed. Sometimes healing can last 18 months and some women can take up to 3 years. In these cases, more milk may come out and the baby will find it difficult to manage it.
Decreases milk production in some cases, due to less blood flow (less blood flow, less milk). Other theories associate the decrease in production with the perforation of nerve endings in the nipple, since sensitivity in the nipple can be lost and the stimulus received when the baby sucks is not transmitted in the same way.
The loss of sensitivity can make it difficult to perceive that there is a bad grip and therefore be an obstacle to correct it. Be that as it may, there are few studies in this regard, so each case will be valued individually. In case of doubt or concern, it is best to go to a lactation specialist to help resolve any issue in this regard.
