She’s more than just a lactation consultant and an expert on breastfeeding and military moms. As if that weren't enough, Robyn Roche-Paull has also done a comprehensive study of the safety of body modifications -- specifically piercings and tattoos -- when you’re sharing your body via pregnancy or breastfeeding.
I’m so glad I spoke to her about this, because I’ve been planning my first tattoo (I figure I’ve finally, in my 40s, become mature enough to handle it), and I’m still breastfeeding. Duh, I should wait.
How come? Read on.
Amy Keyishian: So if a woman wants a nipple piercing, should she worry that eventually she’ll want to breastfeed, and this’ll screw things up?
Robyn Roche-Paull: No. Chances are, she’ll be fine. Repeated piercings sometimes create scar tissue that can block milk ducts, but in general, a clean piercing by a reputable, professional piercer shouldn’t cause issues. Anecdotally, I have found that breastfeeding is not affected by established nipple piercings. However, some moms do find that they leak, copiously, due to the extra holes in the nipples ... and some babies can find the extra flow difficult to manage. But nothing that isn't manageable by breast pads and some positioning changes.
Will a nursing mother have to take the piercing out when she breastfeeds?
I would recommend that, yes. A baby could choke on a piece of jewelry if it comes apart. It can also cause mouth sores in the baby and harbor bacteria. The mom can take it out for each feeding, or just take it out for the duration of her breastfeeding. She can also use flexible Teflon jewelry while she’s breastfeeding.
Yikes! Won’t the hole close up?
Well, if it healed properly, then it created a fistula, or a channel, that should allow for removal and replacement for each nursing session. But nipple piercings notoriously close up quickly, sometimes within a matter of hours, especially if they are only a few years old. And all the removal and reinsertion can cause irritation and also up the risk for infection, even if you’re very cautious about hand-washing.
What if you haven’t got one yet?
If you’re planning to get pregnant in the next 12 to 18 months, you should put off that piercing. It needs to be healed enough to comfortably remove before the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy. And if you’re pregnant, forget it. No reputable piercer will knowingly pierce a pregnant woman.
How about tattoos? If you’ve already got them, does that have any effect on breastfeeding?
Absolutely not. No matter where your tattoo is, as long as you didn’t contract a disease during the application of that tattoo, it won’t affect your pregnancy or breastfeeding.
The ink doesn’t go into your body?
No. It is deposited into the dermal layer of the skin, where it is trapped. It would have to migrate into the mom’s blood plasma, and then somehow into the milk-making cells of the breast. If that happened, no one would have any tattoos left after a couple of years as the ink would vanish, male or female! Honestly, the risk is negligible. Keep in mind, though, that the inks are not regulated by the FDA and some mothers have experienced allergic reactions to the ink -- not something you might want to deal with while breastfeeding!
What about getting a tattoo when pregnant?
Again, I’d wait. When you’re pregnant, your body’s too busy making a baby. Why would you ask it to work overtime healing a tattoo? Plus, some moms are more sensitive while pregnant, so it might hurt more. And again, a reputable tattoo artist will not tattoo a pregnant woman, period.
Like getting waxed hurts more when you’re pregnant. Ask me how I know.
Right. And then, of course, there’s the risk of infection or an allergic reaction to the ink. Of course, you’re going to pick the most responsible and reputable artist possible, but there’s always an element of risk, and this isn’t the time to take that risk.
So women should wait 'til after the baby’s born.
It’s your call, of course, but that same risk is in play when you’re breastfeeding. If you get an infection, it can be passed to the baby. And once again, most reputable tattoo artists will not, knowingly, tattoo a breastfeeding mother either.
And in general, anyone getting a piercing or tattoo should follow basic safety guidelines.
Yes. You want to be careful about who does this work whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or not. If they don't follow universal precautions, I'd run the other direction!
You can read more about the research Roche-Paull has done here.
What’s your experience with tattoos, piercings, and motherhood? Did you get attitude from your doctors? Did you have difficulty breastfeeding? Tell us in the comments!
Image via Aimee.Knight/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
Comments 62
I'm going to start a new trend of NOT putting permanent holes in your boobs, face or intimate body parts or covering them with permanent pictures. Enough, already.
No matter how good your tattoo "artist" is, I still think tattoos are tacky. I've never seen one in my life and thought, "Wow! I want to see that FOREVER!" Just as I would never commit to the same shirt forever, I will not commit to a tattoo, which is forever.
If you're having a mid-life crisis. Get a sports car. Trust me, it's far less permanent and you will spare yourself the humiliation.
I had a nipple piercing when I was young and took it out a few years ago. It didn't affect breastfeeding my son at all. And my midwife and her assistants thought that my tattoos were pretty.
I've been waiting until my son weans to finish my back tattoo, but now that he's weaned we're actually trying to get pregnant again. Guess the tattoo will have to wait a little longer. :)
I come from a circle of friends where piercings are commen things amongst us, and a few close friends of mine or professional body modificationists. I have only 4 tatts but over 10 body piercings, including collar bone microdermal implants, and ya know what??? NOBODY including my dr, has ever given me crap for them, you know why? The people i know have respect for what one chooses to do with their bodies, the only comment i did have was removing a certain one for child birth and that was it! my body, my business.
and tinypossum-..permanent holes??? REALLY??? educate yourself a little bit.....piercings heal....and so do the holes once said piercings removed and left out...DUH. the only thing thats permanent is a tatt....which nobody should do UNLESS they are 110% sure then they should still think on it more!
I am also a mother to a beautiful 2 1/2 year old daughter and expecting my second daughter within the next 6 weeks. My boyfriend is a professional piercer and is very successful in our industry and community.
Yes, tattoos are permanent and should NEVER be done while you're pregnant. Any respectable artist will refuse to do it and the ones that don't and see no problems with it are more than likely the ones you want to avoid. Same with piercings.
Piercings are not permanent! Yes, they can last for many many years. But more than likely once taken out, the hole will either heal over and close up or shrink down to where no jewelry will fit into it. As far as nipple piercings go, I've kept mine in the entire time and there was some extra leaking it wasn't anything excessive and was manageable.
As far as Doctors, I spent the first 3 months of my daughters life in a childrens hospital because she was 10 week early. I was treated with respect and like a parent, not like some freakshow. :)
I hope this helps a little!