Nursing with Pierced Nipples

QUESTION: I am not pregnant nor a mother but recently pierced my nipple and am really scared that I will not be able to breastfeed because of scar tissue damage and other rumors. I was assured by the place that I could feed, but I am a breastfeeding advocate and want to make sure my spur-of-the moment decision wasn't stupid, and one my baby and I will have to pay for down the road. Please help.

Fortunately, there are many mothers who have breast surgery, lumpectomies, etc., that may involve one breast. In fact, these conditions may cause some partial obstruction of milk flow from one particular area of the breast. But remember that nature designed a system so that most mothers can feed multiples. Even if the small wedge of breast tissue that drains into the lactiferous sinus was damaged by the piercing of your breast, there is enough healthy tissue left that this should not be a significant problem. I would advise you to remove the ring now, and let as much time as possible for healing occur between now and the arrival of your first baby.

Whenever there is interruption of the collecting system that drains the little factory cells into the lactiferous sinuses (that lie beneath the areola and drain into the nipple), the stasis of the obstructed milk within the alveoli (the milk producing unit) sends out a signal to the factory cells to stop producing milk. This area of the breast will eventually involute and stop producing milk. A common example of this would be in the woman who has ancillary breast tissue in her axilla. This mother will notice a soft lump which may get to be even as large as a lemon, around the third to seventh day postpartum. Without drainage of the secretions, the gland involutes and seems to "disappear." No harm done, as there is plenty of other healthy breast tissue. Just an unusual quirk of nature.

Dr. Jane Morton, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, is an expert on nursing premature infants as well as a member of the Breastfeeding.com medical advisory board. Dr. Morton has answered several of your breastfeeding questions. Look for more Q&A forums with Dr. Morton in the future.

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