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Nose piercings are super popular in many cultures and a way to express one’s individuality. You’ve read stories of women who didn’t even think twice when it came to having their nose pierced while breastfeeding. But everyone is different, and you have doubts about going through with this, as any sort of piercing comes with risks.
Getting a nose piercing when breastfeeding is considered relatively safe, although it is recommended to delay piercing for a minimum of 3 months after giving birth. A qualified, hygienic piercing professional and correct aftercare are important to reduce the risk of infection
Any body piercing needs very careful thought and we are going to look at each point in detail to help you make the right decision for you and your baby.
Nose Piercing Location and Stud
The most frequent style of nose piercing can be done on either your left or right nostril. This piercing takes place in the soft, lower section of the nose, just above the lip. The placement is also influenced by the nerve structure and the nose.
If you’re thinking of any other location on the nose, then it’s best to speak to a professional and find out if it is really safe to do so considering you’re breastfeeding.
Although a nose ring may be your preference, most likely you’ll have to get a stud. A titanium stud is the safest metal to use when first getting pierced. The healing of the piercing ranges from 4 to 6 months, after which you can change it for a ring or other designs.
How to Find a Safe Piercing Studio
It’s important to do a thorough search of all the well-established piercing studios in your area. It’s very important to read the reviews to see if they are trusted and reliable. Check that all the certifications are genuine and speak to the practitioner beforehand.
The first thing to look for when you attend the piercing shop is the overall hygiene and sanitization of the shop and cleanliness. You should feel reassured that the shop is well maintained. They should be only using single-use needles or piercing guns. Piercing guns are the recommended equipment for piercing. The piercer themselves must practice good hand hygiene like washing their hands before wearing gloves and using gloves while handling all equipment.
Before doing any sort of piercing, a professional piercer will require you to fill out a waiver form and this includes a question about whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Some experienced pierce’s have reassured breastfeeding mums that in their experience, a nose piercing will not cause any major problems. However, some professionals will be reluctant to do any piercings if you are breastfeeding, so it is best to contact the shop beforehand to find out the policy.
Piercing Risks
Piercing can carry risks such as an allergic reaction to the metal. Maybe you haven’t had any reactions to previous piercings and this may be a good indication that your body will not have an adverse reaction. However, as a breastfeeding mother, the body is in a different state so there could be a chance of a reaction.
Excessive bleeding is also associated with piercings but a nose piercing doesn’t usually have a risk of bleeding as much compared to other body parts.
Another issue is piercing rejection. This is when the body tries to push out the jewellery. This happens as an immune response as the body doesn’t recognise the foreign object. The piercing is pushed to the surface of the skin and may cause the skin to crack open.
But this is more common in the following places.
- Eyebrow
- Belly button
- Surface piercings
- Nape
- Hip
The major risk is infection and this mainly happens if the equipment used is not sanitised properly. An infection may require you to take antibiotics and although this is generally safe and won’t harm your baby, I think we can agree that we would like to avoid unnecessary antibiotics that could go into the breast milk, which could give your little one a stomach ache.
Piercing Aftercare
It is very important to keep your nose piercing very clean once you get home. All good piercing professionals will provide you with a solution to keep your new piercing clean. Make sure you wash your hands before you touch your nose piercing and follow the instructions to regularly keep your piercing clean and away from bacteria.
It’s easy to become complacent or lose track of this especially when you’re looking after a little baby. Maybe you can set regular alarms on your mobile to remind you to check on your nose piercing and to make sure it stays clean.
Try and use a clean cotton wool pad and apply saline solution or soap and water several times a day on your nose piercing and the surrounding area. Make sure you keep the piercing dry between cleaning.
This one may sound funny, but your baby can also pose a risk to your new nose piercing. The shiny glittery thing on your nose can make your little baby curious and they can reach over and pull on your stud. Not only are you busy keeping your nose stud clean, but stopping it from being pulled off your nose by your baby, who thinks it’s a glittering shiny star!
Do you really have to wait to get a nose piercing?
The association of professional piercers recommends waiting around three months after having your baby and then getting any kind of piercing. This gives your body time to heal.
As you know, the immune system is very busy trying to heal the body after giving birth and the hormones are also adjusting and producing breast milk. Sometimes hormones can increase the likelihood of swelling and irritation in breastfeeding mothers. A nose piercing could trigger a reaction such as swelling and irritation.
Although you may have piercings on other parts of the body from before and had no problems, this time could be different. Only you can decide if it’s the right time for a nose piercing.
You must do this before anything else!
You must speak to your family doctor and seek medical advice about having your nose pierced and the location of the piercing. Your doctor is your first go-to source of information and they will assess you and your baby and give their professional opinion. Some mothers have had the all-clear from doctors and were fine after their nose piercing.
In conclusion – proper hygiene and aftercare are important, and get medical advice specific to you
If you’re someone who understands body piercing and has had piercings done before then a nose piercing while breastfeeding may not seem to be a problem. Your body is already used to body piercings, and you don’t have a history of any reaction.
Nose piercings are less risky as compared to other non-traditional or uncommon body areas.
If you’re new to piercing, then it’s a good idea to just wait a little longer and maybe replace the urge of a nose piercing with something else.
The greatest risk is usually because of two important factors: the place where you get your piercing done and making sure everything is sanitised and secondly the aftercare you take keeping the nose piercing clean.
Remember, getting professional advice beforehand is very important!
