A pregnancy belly ring is a unique kind of bellybutton ring worn in a navel piercing. These special retainers are made so that expectant mothers can comfortably and safely keep their navel piercings while they are pregnant. "Normal" belly rings are the typical, curved barbell shape or done in a "j-bar" style, but a pregnancy belly ring looks quite different. At first glance, they may look HUGE - but this is purposeful. These retainers are made to be long because they can be customized to fit - something that can be done right in the comfort of your own home.

Being pregnant is nothing short of a miracle of nature... But you don't have to give up on your navel ring due to your growing baby bump! These flexible, bioplast pregnancy retainers are perfect for any mama looking to keep their pierced and modified look for nine months and beyond!

Body Candy has the biggest and best selection of body jewelry in the world, including a gigantic selection of comfy pregnancy belly retainers. Belly button jewelry is one of our many areas of expertise, so we want to educate you on the many different ways you can wear jewelry in your navel. Here's everything you need to know about this unique type of jewelry!

Does a navel piercing hurt?

If you're considering a retainer for your pregnancy, you already know... Yes! But for those who haven't been pierced yet - during the piercing process, a professional piercer will push a needle through the skin around your belly button. Since the navel is a fleshy piercing, you will most likely experience it as a sharp, quick pinch... We promise it's going to be over before you know it!

How much does it hurt?

It's important to recognize that every body is different, so pain tolerance in every case is completely subjective. If you can handle a quick pinch, diligent aftercare, and tender patience throughout the healing process, your navel piercing will be fully healed before you know it.

In terms of inserting a pregnancy belly ring, your piercing should already be healed, so you shouldn't experience much pain (if any at all). If you unexpectedly (or expectedly) get pregnant before your belly button piercing has fully healed, it might be a better idea to take the piercing out entirely until you can let the piercing heal uninterrupted for at least six months.

Either way, pregnant or not, be sure to follow your professional piercer's aftercare instructions for a quick and healthy healing time. If you want help with your pregnancy retainer, you can always head back to your piercer for advice on insertion, trimming, and ways to keep your piercing and your body protected throughout your pregnancy.

Important note: NEVER get pierced with a piercing gun. Piercings should always be performed with a clean needle by a professional, licensed piercer.

How Long Do Belly Piercings Take to Heal?

A navel ring is located in a fleshy area (as opposed to cartilage) with plenty of blood supply. Most individuals will notice the outside of the piercing appear healed up in about four (4) to six (6) weeks. Be gentle with it, because your piercing is probably still healing on the inside.

Everybody's healing process will be different, but you will more than likely want to give it at least two (2) to three (3) months to fully heal. To be safe, you should plan for at least six (6) to eight (8) months of diligent aftercare.

If you plan to get pregnant, make sure your belly piercing is fully healed if you plan on keeping your mod. Before you try to swap out your freshly pierced belly ring for a retainer, it's important to make sure that you have completely healed to avoid the possibility of injury or infection.

Disclaimer: If you are experiencing pain, discharge, or any other medical complications, contact a medical professional AND your professional piercer ASAP.

How Do I Adjust the Length of My Pregnancy Belly Ring?

At an eye-catching 2" long, you might be wondering why pregnancy belly rings come at such a strange length. They come long on purpose - pregnancy rings can be trimmed down to fit an individual's unique piercing needs as their body changes throughout the pregnancy. 

1.) Unscrew - remove the ball end from the top of your pregnancy retainer. You can also remove the bottom ball if necessary - they will both be able to be screwed back on later.

2.) Measure - carefully measure out the length of barbell that you'll need to accommodate your growing belly.  Remove your current jewelry and insert your retainer to figure out a comfortable length that works for you.

3.) Trim - Remove the jewelry from your piercing. Cut the bioplast retainer with a pair of scissors at approximately a 45 degree angle. Make sure you trim it at the length you previously measured - remember you can always trim more, but you can't add length back on once it's snipped!

4.) Re-screw - screw the ball end back onto the end that has just been cut. Bioplast is a unique material in that the threading inside of the ball will re-thread the snipped end of the retainer. This might take a few tries, but the threads will eventually form.

5.) Adjust - snip more and re-thread the end if you need to make any further adjustments... Otherwise, congratulations on both your pregnancy and your safe and comfy navel ring!