Misconceptions

• A woman with a navel piercing who becomes pregnant may assume she must remove her belly-button ring once her belly begins to grow. There is actually no medical reason why a pregnant woman would have to remove her belly-button ring, according to Dr. Marjorie Greenfield of Dr. Spock. If the ring becomes uncomfortable late in pregnancy it may be removed, but Dr. Greenfield suggests a woman keep the navel piercing as long as possible to be reminded of her prepregnancy identity.
  
  

Safety

• Women who are pregnant should avoid getting a new belly-button piercing since the piercing may not heal well due to the changing shape of the belly, according to the March of Dimes. If the piercing needle is not sterile, it can increase the chance of developing a serious infection, such as hepatitis B or HIV/AIDS, and passing that infection on to the unborn baby. Piercing studios should be clean and have sterilized equipment; the piercer should wear gloves; and all jewelry should be clean and unopened.
  
  

Risks

• Infection is the main risk of having a belly-button ring while pregnant, especially if the piercing is new and not properly cared for, according to the March of Dimes. Signs of infection may include redness or swelling around the piercing, pain, skin (by the piercing) that is warm to the touch or pus leaking from the piercing. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact a health-care professional for a medical diagnosis and treatment.
  
  

Alternatives

• If the belly-button ring is uncomfortable and must be removed, a maternity belly-button ring may be used in its place. Maternity navel piercings are made of medical-grade plastic, making them flexible and easier to accommodate a growing belly. They are also longer than typical metal piercings, which provides more room for growth and less chance of infection or tearing at the piercing site. If both the metal piercing and maternity piercing are uncomfortable, the piercing may be removed until after delivery.
  
  

Considerations

• While belly-button rings are considered safe to wear throughout pregnancy, the topic should be discussed with a health-care professional. In some instances, a health-care provider may suggest the piercing be removed during pregnancy or may require it be removed prior to labor and delivery.