Navel Piercing and Pregnancy: What to Do with It

Multnomah Body Piercing · 2026-05-15

Navel Piercing and Pregnancy: A Practical Guide for Expecting Mothers

Discovering you're pregnant is an exciting milestone, but if you have a navel piercing, you may be wondering what happens next. A belly button piercing doesn't automatically mean you need to remove it during pregnancy, but understanding your options will help you make the best decision for you and your baby. This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about maintaining your navel piercing throughout pregnancy.

Understanding How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant physical transformations. Your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby, with most women experiencing visible abdominal changes between months 4 and 6. On average, pregnant women gain between 25 and 35 pounds, though this varies based on individual factors. Your belly button area stretches considerably—in fact, approximately 90% of pregnant women experience belly button protrusion or "popping out" as pregnancy progresses.

This expansion directly affects your navel piercing. The stretching skin can create pressure around your piercing site, potentially causing discomfort, migration, or rejection. The jewelry itself may become uncomfortably tight against your skin. Understanding these physical changes helps you prepare and decide whether to keep your piercing active or switch to a pregnancy-safe alternative.

The Case for Keeping Your Navel Piercing During Pregnancy

You don't necessarily have to remove your navel piercing when you become pregnant. Many women successfully maintain their belly button piercings throughout their entire pregnancy without complications. The key is using appropriate jewelry and monitoring your comfort level.

Keeping your piercing open offers several advantages. You preserve the piercing hole itself—a fully healed navel piercing can close within days or weeks of jewelry removal, meaning you'd need to re-pierce after delivery. If your piercing is relatively new (less than one year old), closure becomes even more likely. By maintaining the piercing with suitable jewelry, you can return to your original navel jewelry after pregnancy and healing without re-piercing.

Additionally, many women feel that their navel piercing is an important part of their identity and body expression. Pregnancy shouldn't mean removing aspects of yourself that make you feel confident and beautiful.

Why Pregnancy Retainers Are Your Best Solution

If you want to keep your navel piercing open during pregnancy, a pregnancy retainer is your ideal solution. A retainer is flexible jewelry specifically designed to accommodate your changing body during these nine months.

Pregnancy retainers differ from standard belly button jewelry in several important ways:

• Made from flexible materials like bioplast or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), not rigid metal
• Accommodate significant size expansion without creating pressure or discomfort
• Typically clear or skin-toned, making them less visible under clothing
• Cost significantly less than traditional jewelry, usually between $15-$40
• Can stretch with your body without snagging or pulling on the piercing site

Most pregnancy retainers are designed to be worn starting in your second trimester when belly expansion becomes noticeable. They can typically accommodate belly expansion of several inches, making them suitable throughout pregnancy and even into the postpartum period. After delivery and once your body returns to its pre-pregnancy size, you can remove the retainer and return to your regular navel jewelry.

The experts at Multnomah Body Piercing recommend switching to a retainer around week 16-20 of pregnancy, though this varies based on individual circumstances and how quickly your belly grows.

Choosing Between Removal and Retention

The decision to keep or remove your navel piercing during pregnancy is personal and depends on several factors:

Keep your piercing if:

• Your piercing is fully healed (typically at least 6-12 months old)
• You're committed to using proper pregnancy retainers
• You plan to wear jewelry again after pregnancy
• You're comfortable with potential temporary migration or slight irritation

Consider removing your piercing if:

• Your piercing is relatively new and not fully healed
• You experience significant discomfort or pain as pregnancy progresses
• You have a history of keloids or problematic scarring
• You don't plan to wear navel jewelry after pregnancy
• You experience complications like infection or excessive irritation

If you choose removal, your piercing will likely close. According to experienced piercers at Multnomah Body Piercing, a fully healed piercing may remain open for several weeks to months, but closure typically occurs within the first few weeks. If you want to re-pierce after pregnancy, it's best to wait at least 6-8 weeks postpartum to ensure your body has fully recovered.

Practical Care Tips for Your Navel Piercing During Pregnancy

Whether you maintain your piercing or transition to a retainer, proper care remains essential:

• Switch jewelry early: Don't wait until your belly is significantly stretched. Transition to a pregnancy retainer around week 16-20 of pregnancy.
• Keep it clean: Continue gentle saline solution rinses twice daily, even with a retainer in place.
• Monitor for irritation: Watch for redness, swelling, or discharge. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice signs of infection.
• Avoid tension: Wear loose clothing that doesn't put pressure on your piercing site.
• Stay aware of changes: Your belly will continue expanding. If a retainer becomes uncomfortable, size up or consult with a professional piercer.
• Avoid unnecessary touching: Keep your hands away from the piercing to prevent introducing bacteria.

Multnomah Body Piercing recommends scheduling a consultation with a professional piercer during your pregnancy. They can assess your specific piercing, recommend appropriate retainer styles, and provide personalized guidance based on your piercing history and body changes.

After Pregnancy: Returning to Your Regular Navel Jewelry

Once you've delivered and your body begins returning to its pre-pregnancy size, you can transition back to your regular navel jewelry. Wait at least 4-6 weeks postpartum before switching back to ensure the area has settled and returned to normal. If you experienced any irritation during pregnancy, allow additional healing time.

Your piercing may appear slightly different—the hole might be a bit larger or slightly repositioned due to the stretching. This typically resolves as tissues settle. If you're concerned about any changes, the professional piercers at Multnomah Body Piercing can assess your piercing and recommend appropriate jewelry sizes and styles for your new anatomy.

Professional Guidance for Oregon's Expecting Mothers

Since 1974, Multnomah Body Piercing has been Oregon's original piercing family, serving generations of clients with expert care and honest advice. If you're pregnant and concerned about your navel piercing, their experienced piercers understand the unique challenges of maintaining body art during pregnancy and can help you make informed decisions.

Whether you need a pregnancy retainer, professional jewelry sizing, or post-pregnancy piercing assessment, contact Multnomah Body Piercing today for a consultation. Their expertise and commitment to client safety make them the ideal resource for navigating your navel piercing through pregnancy and beyond. Your body is changing, but your sense of self doesn't have to—let the professionals help you maintain what makes you feel confident during this special time.