Pregnant women must abide by a long list of do’s and don’ts. Belly piercings for pregnancy are among the don’ts. Unless you had pierced your navel before pregnancy, you should not get piercings now. The Association of Professional Piercers at safepiercing.org suggests getting body piercings after delivering your baby. Pregnancy weakens the immune system, making you vulnerable to diseases and infections.
For that reason, avoid piercing your belly, nipples, or private parts when expectant to prevent infections. If you have healed belly button piercings, you can wear jewelry throughout pregnancy provided you are comfortable. For more tips on this matter, let us proceed to the next paragraph together.
What makes belly piercings for pregnancy risky?
As we noted earlier, piercing your navel during pregnancy is not worth the risk. As your pregnant belly grows, your immune system must work harder to keep you and the baby safe. Realizing this fact is essential because you can aim to protect and build your immune system. Piercings during pregnancy can put you in danger of the following:
- A potential infection at the piercing site – Since your immune system is already weak during pregnancy, it may not help your piercings heal fast. This delay in healing can increase your odds of catching a new infection. If the infection reaches the bloodstream, it can put your unborn baby at risk.
- Irritation and itching – A piercing on any body part may trigger irritation and itching on the pierced area. The last thing you want when expectant is more discomfort.
- An allergy – Some people’s skin respond badly to metal exposure. If your skin is sensitive, avoid wearing metal jewelry when pregnant. That is if you already have healed piercings.
- Contracting HIV – If you get a belly button piercing from a reputable piercer, your risk of contracting a lifetime virus like HIV is low. Such people use sterilized needles and piercing guns. The opposite is true, and you can risk acquiring Hepatitis B or C viruses from the piercing tools.
If you plan to get pregnant soon, get your piercings months before trying to conceive. The pierced areas will have healed by the time you are heavy with child. Alternatively, get belly piercings for pregnancy at least three months after the birth of your child.
Should You Remove Belly Piercings when Pregnant?
It is upon you to give your unborn fetus high odds of survival before it is born. However, removing healed piercings will not be advantageous medically. You can keep your healed piercings in throughout your pregnancy journey. Remember to clean them often to avoid proliferation of germs and new infections.
Wear your jewelry on the belly button for as long as you can handle it. Should the pierced spots start itching or burning, stop wearing your jewelry to prevent irritation. As your belly grows, the jewelry might get stuck on the garments. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, beautify your belly piercings for pregnancy after giving birth.
If you have pierced your navel after learning about your pregnancy or shortly before, do not panic. Stay attentive to identify potential infections as soon as they occur. Additionally, call your mid-wife right after noticing symptoms of an infection at the piercing site. These symptoms can include the following:
• Pus
• Swelling around the pierced site
• Redness
• Pain
• Burning
• Fever.
What to do with a belly button ring
If you have a belly button ring, keep it in only if the punctured site is healthy. Do not assume that any piercing you go less than six weeks before finding out you are pregnant is okay. It may look okay but has not healed fully from inside out.
If that is the case, remove the belly ring and treat the area until it heals. Remember that the navel might pop out as your belly grows bigger and tighter. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, remove the belly ring until you deliver the baby.
But what if the hole closes up? Some of you might not want to re-pierce the same area after it closes up from not wearing any jewelry. To keep the hole from closing, wear clean Teflon body jewelry. It is the best because it will expand as your pregnant belly grows.
Can belly piercings affect child birth?
Yes, belly piercings for pregnancy can affect child birth by C-section. You do not have to let the holes close though. Remove the jewelry shortly before going to the hospital for child birth. Some women expect to have a vaginal birth but end up in the theatre for surgery.
Thus, any pregnant lady wearing belly button jewelry should remove it in advance. Even if the doctors will make a horizontal cut inches below your belly button, it is best to keep the entire stomach clear.
Tips if you are considering getting belly button piercings
First, avoid getting any piercings when trying for a baby or pregnant. Next, buy this service from a registered piercing studio. Professionals at a reputable studio exercise high hygiene standards when carrying out the body piercing procedures.
They also disinfect their offices and tools. Professional piercers use single-use, disposable needles to prevent HIV and related infections. Their dressings and jewelry are germ-free, packed, and sealed. Seek advice from a professional piercer, if you have healed or non-healed piercings during pregnancy.
Final word
Belly Piercings for pregnancy may be fun to get, but doctors and professional piercers do not recommend them. If you want to keep the unborn fetus and yourself safe, get piercings three months after giving birth. If planning to get pregnant, have your belly button piercings before trying to conceive.
If you have just gotten your pregnancy news, first heal any body piercings you got less than six weeks ago. Lastly, wear your belly button jewerly throughout the pregnancy or until you start feeling uncomfortable.
