A fully established navel piercing does not typically pose a direct threat to a developing pregnancy. The main concern shifts to managing comfort and preventing complications as the body changes over the nine months. While a healed piercing can often be kept, it requires specific management to accommodate the expanding abdomen. An existing, healthy piercing is generally safe, but necessary steps must be taken, and certain medical situations will require its temporary removal.
Immediate Safety and Contraindications
Getting a new navel piercing during pregnancy is strongly discouraged. The body’s immune system experiences natural changes, which can slow the healing process and increase the risk of localized infection. An unhealed wound may struggle to close properly, making it more susceptible to bacterial entry and subsequent infection.
If a piercing is less than six months old or shows signs of irritation before conception, it is recommended to remove it entirely until after delivery. An unhealed hole that stretches significantly with the growing bump increases the risk of tearing, migration, and infection. If an infection were to occur, the use of certain medications, including antibiotics, may be restricted due to pregnancy guidelines.
Adjusting an Existing Piercing During Expansion
For a fully healed piercing, the focus moves to managing the stretching of the skin, which typically begins in the second trimester. As the uterus expands, the abdominal skin becomes taut, and the rigid metal jewelry can begin to pull on the tissue, causing discomfort, redness, and potential skin trauma. This tension can also lead to the piercing migrating or rejecting, resulting in a stretched hole and scarring.
To prevent these issues, switching from metal to a flexible material is recommended, usually around the beginning of the second trimester. The preferred materials are Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Bioflex, medical-grade plastics that bend and flex with the growing abdomen. These materials are safe to wear during diagnostic imaging like ultrasound scans and can often be cut to a custom length. Flexible jewelry helps reduce pressure on the piercing site, minimizing irritation and permanent stretching of the channel.
When Removal Becomes Necessary
Despite the use of flexible jewelry, specific medical scenarios require a belly button piercing to be removed for safety reasons. Any procedure involving electrocautery, such as a Cesarean section, requires the removal of all metal jewelry to prevent the risk of electrical burns to the skin. While a vaginal delivery typically does not require removal, it is safer to remove the jewelry before heading to the hospital in case of an unexpected C-section or other surgical intervention.
Additionally, any diagnostic imaging procedure that uses powerful magnets, such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, necessitates the removal of all metal jewelry. The magnetic field can attract the metal, potentially causing injury or severely distorting the image quality, which compromises the diagnostic value of the scan. Even flexible plastic retainers should be considered for temporary removal if the piercing is causing discomfort or showing signs of infection, such as discharge, excessive redness, or pain.
Post-Delivery Appearance and Healing
After childbirth, the abdomen gradually shrinks, and the appearance of the piercing site may change permanently due to stretching. The piercing channel can become elongated or slightly distorted, and the skin around the navel may show increased laxity. This stretching can sometimes lead to the development of stretch marks radiating from the piercing hole, or the creation of excess scar tissue.
The original jewelry can typically be reinserted once the abdomen has returned to a more stable, non-stretched state, which may take several weeks to months postpartum. If the piercing was left out for an extended period, the channel may have begun to close, requiring the use of a tapered insertion pin or even a re-piercing if it has healed shut. Allowing the area to recover and ensuring no complications are present is advisable before attempting to reintroduce the original rigid jewelry.