Nipple piercings- just found out am pregnant...

[user1476183163]

I'm super excited as have just found out I'm pregnant. However, I hadn't even thought about what to do about my nipple piercings! I've had them pierced for over 10 years so they are definitely healed.
Does anyone have experience of piercings when pregnant/breastfeeding? If I need to take them out during pregnancy (I've already figured I can't leave them in if breastfeeding- totally dangerous sounding!) of course I will, however, I have read a really confusing mix of whether they are ok or not/have I ruined my chances of breastfeeding by being young and stupid?!!

[drinkyourmilk]

Helpfully I have no idea. Only thing I can add is that my nipped have been on fire since about 6 weeks. If I even catch them with clothing it's agonising. Can't imagine how bad it would be if I catch a piercing.

[drinkyourmilk]

Oh- and congratulations!

[noodlmcdoodl]

Not very helpful... but may be able to shed a bit more light soon as I plan to breastfeed. I've got one done and currently 34 weeks. I've kept it in with no issues, but swapped from a shield to a bar as it was more comfy. I've not had any problems with the bar and wouldn't know it was there. It's just a normal one (not stretchy or plastic or anything). I can't imagine the hole will have any impact on my ability to breastfeed.

[user1476183163]

Noodl- have you found the bar painful as your boobs grow? At the moment I'm only 4 weeks, so I haven't got any tenderness at all.

[GrabtharsHammer]

I took mine out as by mid pg I had nipples the size of dinner plates.

Milk used to squirt out of the holes, which made for a cool party trick

[user1476183163]

Grabthar- did you manage to breast feed?

[fuddymonster]

I just took mine out when I found out I was pregnant as they became quickly super sensitive and breastfed no probs. If they need re-piercing after you've enjoyed the mum bit its easily the quickest healing and least painful of any piercings I've had ( on the plus side) x

[froglou]

Yeah you're fine, but you may have to take them out for hygiene reasons. As far as I'm aware (quite possibly wrong) you produce milk from the entire areola. Also you may need to take them out because of pain for the first couple weeks, I don't have piercing or anything but I had to shower in a bikini top as it hurt so much to not have a bra on!

[GrabtharsHammer]

Yes! Breastfed all three DC into toddlerhood.

[Geretrude]

Yes the milk comes out from across the areola, not just the nipple. And even if your nipple isn't pierced, the milk shoots out at peculiar angles!

I would take them out just because they get super-sensitive.

Congratulations :)

[freewheezy]

Mine starting really hurting around 25 weeks so I took them out and haven't put them back in since.
I would never bf dd with them in. Danger aside it can't be nice for them to suckle on because the nipple goes quite far back into the mouth. You could take them out for every feed but they feed so much it is just easier to keep them out. The holes don't affect my feeding but that may be different for everyone.

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

The milk doesn't come from the whole areola, just the nipple, but a piercing will make no difference to feeding (although yes, you'll have to take them out to bf!) everyone is different so you may or may not be able to keep them through pregnancy - I had to take mine out at about 4 months into my first pg as my nipples got so big they started trying to eat the nipple bars never bothered getting it redone after I'd stopped bf but that was just personal choice. Am currently bf-ing my second baby with no problems at all.
Congratulations!

[user1476183163]

Thank you so much guys- I feel so much better. Was starting to worry i had ruined my chance of breastfeeding!! I think I'll get some long length PTFE retainers and cut to size! If they end up hurting I'll take em out!x