Are you planning to get pregnant soon or you have a little angel already? However, you are worried your nipple piercings might affect breastfeeding. Or perhaps, you are already pregnant and thinking of getting nipple piercings, but you’re not sure if it’s safe? Let me say that all your concerns are valid.
But the question still remains, does milk come out of piercing holes? Yes, milk comes out of piercing holes, because breast nipple have several holes that milk come from, and which means you can still breastfeed. On the flip side, though, the extra piercing holes may affect your milk flow. For some women, the flow may increase, and for others, it may reduce for different reasons.
While the piercings may affect your milk flow, I can assure you that this is not a cause for concern. You only need to figure out how to deal with the changes. Now, let’s find out everything there is to know about nipple piercings and breastfeeding.
What You need to Know about Breast milk coming out of Nipple Piercing Holes
When you ask the question does milk come out of piercing holes, you need to know first that nipple doesn’t have one hole only, it have several holes from where the milk comes out of from a mother. Which is why the couple extra holes such as piercing holes shouldn’t matter.
Using a breast pump will let you see this, but it can’t be seen only by squeezing your breast, the reason is squeezing is a slow process. So, it is fine to have piercing holes on nipples, because baby takes the entire nipple and areola it their mouth, and the milk goes where it should.
Does Milk Come Out Of Piercing Holes?- In Depth
The simple answer is yes, since the piercings don’t affect your milk ducts. Therefore, you should not have a problem with breastfeeding. What happens is that your breast milk may leak through the piercings after every breastfeeding session.
However, this should not be a cause for concern. You only need to insert some breast pads in your bra to soak up the leaking milk. Also, you may notice an increase in the flow of your breast milk during feeding.
Can I Breastfeed with Pierced Nipples?
Yes, you can breastfeed with nipple piercings as long as they are fully healed. This means you must have had the piercings for more than a year. After all, healing can take anywhere between a year and two years.
You see, nipple piercings don’t interfere with your breast’s milk production. This is because it’s your mammary glands that are responsible for producing the milk. Although you can breastfeed with pierced nipples, the holes may affect your breastfeeding in various ways, such as:
â—Ź Increased milk flow
The extra holes may interfere with your milk flow resulting in a faster and messier flow. And with the increased milk flow, your baby may have a hard time managing it, which could lead to choking.
â—Ź Breast milk leakage
When not breastfeeding, you might have to deal with milk leakage from the piercing holes. Fortunately, this is something you can manage with nursing pads.
â—Ź Reduced milk supply or flow
In the event you get multiple piercings on just one nipple, you may suffer from scarring. And if the scarring does not go away, it could cause your milk ducts to block. Consequently, your milk flow or supply may reduce.
● Baby’s ability to latch
If wearing your nipple jewelry, it will be hard for your baby to latch on properly. Even worse, the hardware could hurt your little one’s mouth. Fortunately, you can avoid all this by removing the jewelry as you breastfeed.
What Happens if You Get Your Nipples Pierced While Pregnant?
Well, you get to expose yourself to various risks. Some of these risks I’m talking about include:
â—Ź Longer healing time
Nipple piercing can take you 3 to 6 months to heal, which is a long time compared to most pierced sites. Unfortunately, if you decide to have the piercing while pregnant, the healing may take longer than a year. This is because your body may try rejecting the piercing as a foreign object.
â—Ź Risk of infections
Besides the prolonged healing period, nipple piercings also put you at a higher risk of getting infections. This is because your immune system tends to weaken when you’re pregnant. If you experience a yellow pus discharge, swelling, or an odd smell on the pierced nipple, you should consult a doctor immediately because your intimate piercings could be infected.
â—Ź Allergic reaction to the nipple jewelry
If you fail to use high-quality nipple jewelry when you get the piercing, you could develop an allergic reaction. For example, some people may be allergic to jewelry made of nickel alloys. And eventually, this may lead to a serious infection.
â—Ź Abscess formation
Additionally, you could have a painful, pus-filled lump in your breast or under the nipple. Unfortunately, the abscess cannot heal on its own. So, you should see a doctor and have the pus drained.
â—Ź Potential to contract hepatitis
In extreme cases, what may happen if you get your nipples pierced while pregnant is that you could contract hepatitis. This is likely to happen if the piercing equipment is not sterilized properly.
Risks and Precautions With a Nipple Piercing
If you are thinking of getting intimate piercings, you must consider what risks this procedure might expose you to. Check them out, including the precautions.
â—Ź Torn skin
You run the risk of having a torn skin if your nipple jewelry gets caught between your clothes. In such a case, your tear may need stitching. To prevent this, you can consider wearing loose clothing until your piercing is completely healed.
â—Ź Bacteria or viral infection
Once you have the piercing, you may have to deal with occasional infections. The best precaution for this is to avoid frequently touching your piercing. Also, you must ensure the piercing is done under sterile conditions and by a professional.
â—Ź Formation of hematomas
Hematomas are simply a pool of mostly clotted blood that may form at the piercing insertion. You can minimize this risk by ensuring you have the piercing done by a qualified piercer.
â—Ź Scarring
Similar to any surgical procedure, scarring is also possible with intimate piercings. You could suffer from keloid scars at the piercing site, which may have to be removed through surgery. I suggest you use a recovery piercing aftercare spray to help minimize the scarring.
â—Ź Nerve damage
If you opt for multiple nipple piercings on a single nipple, you may suffer from nerve damage. This may happen, especially if the procedure is not done correctly and by an expert.
â—Ź Interference with breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, your nipple piercing may interfere with your milk flow. You may notice the milk flowing too fast when nursing your baby. But if you have some blocked ducts as a result of scarring, your milk flow may be slow.
FAQs on Milk Coming out of Piercing Holes
Let’s quickly go through some frequently asked questions about piercings.
How long after breastfeeding can I pierce my nipples?
The recommended time is 3 to 4 months after you have started weaning your little one. This is to prevent hormonal changes caused by breastfeeding from affecting your recovery process.
Can I use chlorhexidine on my piercing?
No, unless it is in diluted form. This is because, like hydrogen peroxide and alcohol, chlorhexidine is highly concentrated when undiluted. Generally, you should use chlorhexidine gluconate at 4%.
Why can’t you get a piercing while nursing?
It’s because there are many risks that you could expose yourself and the baby to, including infections. Besides, nipple piercings take longer to heal completely, and during this time, you cannot nurse your little one.
Can I breastfeed with my nipple piercing jewelry on?
No. It’s not recommended because your baby may have difficulties latching properly. Besides, the jewelry is considered a choking hazard for your little one since it can come loose.
Is it safe to have nipple piercing during early pregnancy?
Most professional piercers don’t advocate for this. This is because as your breasts grow in size during pregnancy, the piercing holes may also enlarge. As a result, healing might take more time.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know the answer to your question, does milk come out of piercing holes? If your nipple piercing holes are fully healed, you should be able to breastfeed your baby without any issues. However, if you notice any signs of infection like swelling, fever, irritation, or unusual discharge, you should seek medical attention immediately.
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