Ask Anne… Question: I had my nipples pierced when I was a teenager. Now I’m in my 20s and thinking about having a baby. Can I breastfeed my baby with pierced nipples? Answer: There is no evidence that established pierced nipples will affect your ability to breastfeed, although milk may leak out of the hole. Try to prevent engorgement and …
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Ask Anne… Question: Hi, I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter who who shows no sign of weaning anytime soon. I’m almost 16 weeks pregnant and expect I will tandem nurse after the baby is born. I have some questions about colostrum. Should I prevent my almost 3 year-old (at the time) from nursing for a few days, while …
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Ask Anne… Question: I have been breastfeeding my 10-week-old son exclusively, and we both love it. My problem is that I have occasional intense itchiness on the skin of my left breast. When I scratch it, it brings on red welts that go away a little later. The itching does not involve the nipple, and it has no effect on …
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Ask Anne… Question: With my first son I successfully nursed until he was 12 months old, at which time he weaned himself. The beginning was very rough and I almost gave up many times. The main problem I had was flat nipples. Neither my doctor or I thought to check before my baby was born. Now that I am expecting …
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Ask Anne… Question: I am five months pregnant and want to breastfeed my baby, but I have several long coarse black hairs around my nipples. Could you suggest a safe method of removing them? I have tried to trim them using scissors, but they grow back even thicker. I don’t want to use depilatory creams as the chemical components in them …
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Mother’s nipples come in many shapes and sizes. While most nipples protrude and are easy for baby to grasp, there are some variations in size and shape that make it difficult for them to nurse successfully. In order for a baby to nurse effectively, he must be able to grasp the nipple and stretch it forward and upward against the …
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The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), recommends that a baby be breastfed for at least the first year of life, and for as long after that as the mother and her baby want to nurse. As wonderful as breastfeeding is, it does present some challenges, like learning how to deal with leaking. Leaking or spraying breasts are a natural, but …
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Breastfeeding Basics