Naval Piercing Question

racheltherose

I've had mine pierced since I was about 14/15(I'm 26 now), and I've grown... pretty attached to it. Last night I noticed it was starting to look irritated I'm assuming from my belly pushing it forward all the time. Did any of you take yours out yet? I have heard that there are retainers to keep it open, and I've heard from other people that theirs never closed and it wasn't a problem. Any experience with this?

I honestly think my stomach looks WEIRD without it, so I'd like to be able to put it back in later on, but I guess I wouldn't be completely heart broken if that's not an option. It's more for myself than anything, belly buttons CREEP ME OUT.

jmcgra06

I got mine pierced at 16, and took it out around 24. (I had DD at 27) It still hasn't closed, even after not putting anything in it for 6 years and having 1.6 pregnancies. 

michelle142

You can get a flexible bar to put in until you deliver.

I took mine out when I was about 24 weeks along with DS. Never put it back in, but it's actually still open and I could put a bar back through if I really wanted to (I don't).

racheltherose

Good to know! I  heard some people got stretch marks around the top hole, did that happen to you at all? (PS I liked the 1.6 pregnancies )

michelle142

racheltherose said:

Good to know! I  heard some people got stretch marks around the top hole, did that happen to you at all? (PS I liked the 1.6 pregnancies )

Yep. I'd snap a photo for you, but no one needs to see that horror show.

racheltherose

Hah oh boy. That's okay, they're a casualty I was expecting. Like I said, belly buttons just really creep me out so I just want to be sure I don't have to stare at this thing for long lol. It's a weird phobia, I know.

mahalo3

I took mine out probably 8 years ago. It's closed. I am getting stretch marks (or at least 1 good one) above the hole. And it now looks like it's not centered. It's not cute! 

ckimberley14

I got mine done a second time when I was 23 (first time was when I was 18, and the guy was an idiot and put it in off-center). First pregnancy I took my normal ring out by 16 weeks and wore a pregnancy belly ring until it just wasn't comfortable to wear it anymore (about 24 weeks). I'm like you, OP, and hate the way my belly button looks without a ring in it. I put my regular ring back in about 2-3 months postpartum. This pregnancy I took it out by 12 weeks because my belly button was already starting to pop out. I probably won't bother putting it back in until I feel comfortable. I didn't have any issues with the hole closing. I would imagine you'll be fine since you've had your piercing for so long.

michelle142

racheltherose said:

Hah oh boy. That's okay, they're a casualty I was expecting. Like I said, belly buttons just really creep me out so I just want to be sure I don't have to stare at this thing for long lol. It's a weird phobia, I know.

LOL you might end up being one of those lucky ladies that I'm jealous of and skip stretch marks altogether. Then you'll have nothing to worry about in the naval stretching department!

racheltherose

michelle142 said:

racheltherose said:

Hah oh boy. That's okay, they're a casualty I was expecting. Like I said, belly buttons just really creep me out so I just want to be sure I don't have to stare at this thing for long lol. It's a weird phobia, I know.

LOL you might end up being one of those lucky ladies that I'm jealous of and skip stretch marks altogether. Then you'll have nothing to worry about in the naval stretching department!

Ugh unfortunately I don't think I'll get that lucky, but who knows! My boobs are already showing signs of faint marks so I may be right with the rest of the marked up ladies. But it's okay. I'll deal

ordinary1

I used a pregnancy one last pregnancy. This time I haven't made the switch yet (27 weeks). I didn't get any stretch marks around my piercing.

mamabutt

I finally caved and took mine out, but only during the day because thats when it bothers me the most. I put it in at night so the hole doesnt close up. I've got a pretty gnarly stretch mark around the top hole though.

racheltherose

@mamabutt mine was starting to get pretty red around the top hole. I know it's not like... infected because it's seriously been around for forever and I'm good about caring for it. I think the pressure was just irritating it. But  I wonder if I tried that, to put it in at night, if that would help or irritate it more?

jmcgra06

michelle142 said:

racheltherose said:

Good to know! I  heard some people got stretch marks around the top hole, did that happen to you at all? (PS I liked the 1.6 pregnancies )

Yep. I'd snap a photo for you, but no one needs to see that horror show.

I didn't get stretch marks in my first pregnancy - the only ones I have are on my boobs from puberty.

mamabutt

For me, it eased the irritation @racheltherose‌ . Cuz its only in 7-9 hours compared to the 12-15 hours that I'm awake running around with layers of clothes rubbing against it. The redness of mine has gone down significantly! And it doesnt itch like crazy anymore.

racheltherose

@mamabutt I'll have to try it! I'm looking up flexible retainers on amazon right now too. Maybe those will be more comfortable

usmcwife89

I had mine pierced at 15, always had something in it. Last year at 24, I had surgery where I had to remove all jewelry.. To everyone's surprise it closed! Wtf no idea why or what happened but the bottom closed completely. :-? I would get the pregnancy one if you for sure don't want it to close.

krispy83

I had mine pierced at 18 and used one of the flexible bars for about the second half of my pregnancy with DS.  No stretch marks around the top hole (but I'm one of those lucky ladies that avoided them completely).  I put the flexible bar in around 22 weeks this time and it doesn't bother me at all - it's much better than using the regular metal bars/rings.

elysek18

I took mine out at the 3 month mark for this pregnancy because I was worried about infection. So far it hasn't closed!

Alygohome

I took mine out when I was in my early 20's and had it since my teens and it still hasn't closed fully. I took my nipple ring out while pregnant and I am soooo sad, I miss it, but it looks like it has already closed even though I had it almost 10 years!

mle106

I had mine from age 16 to 29. It actually fell out a few months before I got pregnant, and I never got another one. I figured I probably wouldn't want it after the baby anyway. I've heard good things about the pregnancy ones though so it might be worth trying if you want to keep your piercing.

jaytee16

I know the feeling, I got mine at 16 and have been very attached. I took it out already, with much nostalgia and sadness. My stomach looks so different and naked without it!! Since I had it for 14yrs there's a good chance it won't close up, but I'm debating not putting it back in. With two babies being held and squirming I worry that it could get torn out and that thought makes me shudder!

MamaS516

I got mine at 18 and took it out recently, but mine has already closed but as pp said they do have flexi ones