Expert: Tanya Phillips, IBCLC - 5/1/2004

Question
I'm a RN in a small rural hospital...yesterday a 23 year old mom...delivered preterm at 28wks gestation. Baby was transfered to a Neonatal ICU. Mom wants to breastfeed...she has peirced nipples bilateral. How do the pierced nipples affect breastfeeding?  Will the pierced tissue/scarring interfier with the flow of milk?

We has her pumping her breast now in preparation to nurse the baby when she is discharged. probably within the next 24hrs.

Answer
Hi Deanne,
It sounds like you know what you are doing!  I am glad your hospital has RN's like you who care enough to ask the right questions.

The best thing to do is exactly what you are already doing, mimic the baby by pumping 8-12 times a day for 10-15 min on both breasts to bring in a good supply.

Get the baby to breast ASAP, to avoid nipple confusion.

She will need to take out the earrings to nurse obviously and the holes my 'grow back' or seal.  Our skin has such a remarkable way of healing itself, she probably won't notice much if any differenc.

The scar tissue may affect it a little, but milk is usually coming in from several glands, so she should be fine.

Watch weight gain and # of poops and pees to keep up with what's going in.

Thanks for the question,
Tanya Phillips, IBCLC