Infected piercings and pregnancy

[Em_325]

I have had my belly button pierced for the last 12 years. I was already beginning to think about having to take it out soon as its starting to stick out as my belly grows but today it felt sore so I had a look and the area around the ball is very red and there was a small bit of puss. I went to the chemist and got some antiseptic spray but is it ok to just monitor it for a couple of days and see how it goes or should I get it looked at because I am pg? If I wasn't pg I would just do the monitor option but should I be a bit more careful given the proximity to my uterus or am I just stressing over something minor as per usual

[~TT40~]

keep a close eye on it. keep it clean. it should heal up. I'd take the ring out too if you haven't already.

[Ms_Fi]

Don't take it out if its infected - you run the risk of it healing over the infection. If you can get in to see a good piercer (at a studio) and get their advice.

When any of mine go funny I use salt water to clean the area several times a day (top and bottom of the piercing) and that sorts it within a couple of days.

Antiseptic spray is a good idea too, but salt water is cheaper!!

[Em_325]

Don't take it out if its infected - you run the risk of it healing over the infection.

That is what I thought as well so I have left if in. I guess I will keep cleaning it and if it gets any worse I will go get it looked at.

[jellybean88]

You can get pregnancy belly barbells that are made of medical grade Teflon so have a bit more give and are flexible might help keep hole open but prevent irritation you just get them off eBay otherwise ask a piercing place what antibacterial to use I love dettol cream

[Rosewater]

The cheapest (and I think most effective) option is to mix up some rock salt and warm/hot water in a cup, bend over it, press it to your belly button to create suction, then stand back up. Do some crazy swishy-belly dancing to really flush out the wound, then bend back over and release the cup. Do that twice a day and that's how I used to clear up my belly button infections

Don't take your piercing out if you can help it - I did for the last few weeks of pregnancy and my hole closed up! I managed to repierce it to earring-guage and now only have a thin gold sleeper in there :/ a bit of a let down. It got terribly stretched and scarred though in my last pregnancy and I'm now 31wks again and it's stretched to the limit.

[Allinaday]

Clean it antibacterial soap or salt water 3 times daily. I got a plastic/flexible bar through my first and second pregnancy. It bends a lot and prevents friction.

[MLR1901]

Tip: put some stretch mark cream around the ring once the infection is gone.
I took my bar out at 11weeks, and now after bubs is here, where my ring was has a star like stretch mark.

[TeniBear]

Sorry to disagree here, but I've been told it's a bad idea to use antibacterial anything on a piercing. It kills something necessary to make it heal (if only I could remember what exactly!), making the body continue to try to reject the bar rather than heal around it. Salt water is all that's needed, because it cleans without killing [whatever it's called ]

It's strange that an already-healed piercing has suddenly become infected (or is on the way to infection), so I'd say it probably is the fact you're pregnant. If your belly has started to pop out, it might have caused a small cut/break in the skin, which has become infected...

[Em_325]

Ohh I didnt realise you could get maternity belly rings so I am going to get one if this clears up ok as I want to retain the piercing if possible.

MLR- thanks for the stretch mark tip- I hadnt even thought about that!

Teni- I thought the same that it was a bit strange it was starting to get infected now as it is an old piercing- I just had a good look at it and (sorry tmi) the puss is all coming from the skin around the top hole. All I can think is because it is sticking out a bit I must have bumped it or something?

I have been using the antiseptic spray but I think I will switch to salt water. I made a Doctor's appointment for Thursday as I have been meaning to go about an unrelated issue so I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone and get it checked if it is still not showing signs of improvement by then.

[Onelittleprincess]

Cover piercing so not to knock it. I put a pregnancy bar in but was knocked constantly that the holes so stretched I can't fit another in