Amanda is right - you are at a higher risk of infection whilst breastfeeding, and your body will divert energy to heal the wound, potentially compromising your supply and causing it to heal slower.

Personally, I wouldn't. I would also be a bit reluctant to have a healing or freshly healed (and thus more sensitive, because it won't have built up the layers of scar tissue) piercing near the hands of what will soon become a highly inquisitive baby who loves to play with mouths (and the shiny things in them).

Hollye, FWIW, and I'm not trying to nitpick here, flu and thrush are not infections, they are a virus and a fungus, both of which behave quite differently (and can still be passed on to the baby). Wound infection can potentially lead to blood poisoning at its worst, which requires very powerful antibiotics that I don't believe are suitable for breastfeeding. In any case, any illness, infection or virus is going to drain a mum of energy and potentially decrease supply - the difference is that one doesn't have a choice whether they get flu or thrush.

Antheia, if you do decide to go ahead with it, try to eat really, really well (lots of fresh fruit and veg) and perhaps take a multi-vitamin that counteracts infection that is safe for breastfeeding.