by mollypen on Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:24 pm
Essentially, the decision to keep your belly jewellery in, or to take it out, will come down to your own individual comfort, and perhaps the type of jewellery you use. As your belly grows and starts to protrude, many women find that their navel begins to 'pop out' and is then more likely to rub on clothing. The piercing jewellery may also get caught on things more readily or be pulled on more often. For these reasons you may decide to remove the jewellery.
If you have had your piercing for a long time and the area has healed fully, the opening may still be there after the birth and your jewellery can be replaced, or you may decide to just run the jewellery through the piercing every day or so to keep it open.
If your belly jewellery is not annoying you, then there is no medical reason to take it out. You may find a belly bar is more comfortable than a belly ring or you may decide to purchase a new PTFE belly bar. These are very flexible and less irritating, especially during pregnancy. Some women will keep their belly jewellery in for the entire pregnancy (as the woman in the photo on this page did), but perhaps consider taking it out during labour, in case a caesarean is required.
Be aware that piercing your navel is not like piercing your ears. It is a larger puncture wound that has a tendency not to fully heal for several weeks or months (some people find they never really heal properly). Therefore, if you had your belly pierced just prior to conceiving and the piercing has not had a chance to fully heal (is still weeping, becomes inflamed or red and irritated) you may need to remove the jewellery and let it heal and perhaps have it re-pierced after your baby is born.
